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-pforary of §onpt$$. 



^DefiyltyM ^=Afe>. 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. ^ 



CRITICAL NOTICES. 



" Dr. Rheinwald has given a very interesting account of the 
Protestant Exiles of Zillerthal, which has been well translated 
by Mr. Saunders, whose volume deserves, and we hope will 
obtain, an extensive circulation. . . Not more edifying 
than touching is Dr. Rheinwald's narrative of their migration, 
for which we must refer to his deeply interesting volume." — 
Church of England Quarterly Review. 

li A curious and interesting narrative of the persecutions 
undergone by the Protestant Tyrolese who some few years 
ago seceded from the Roman catholic church, and were pre- 
vented by the Austrian authorities from exercising their new- 
ly-adopted form of faith in their own country. It is translated 
from the German of Dr. Rheinwald, of Berlin, by Mr. John 
B. Saunders, and will be read with interest by the religious 
community." — New Monthly Magazine. 

u A very interesting account of a small Protestant commu- 
nity from their paternal homes and hearths in the Tyrol, 
driven by Roman catholic bigotry and oppression to find a re- 
fuge in Silesia." — Gentleman's Magazine. 

"This cheap and well printed volume is deeply interesting, 
and we cordially recommend it to all the readers of our jour- 
nal . ' ' — Churchman 1 's Magazine. 

" At any time, this little volume would have been interest- 
ing ; at the present, it is most important." — Wesley an Metho~ 
dist Magazine. 

" This little narrative of startling facts and affecting inci- 
dents ought to be in the hands of all who call themselves 
protestants."— Christian Beacon, 



CRITICAL NOTICES. 

" A perusal of this very neat volume, dedicated by permis- 
sion to the GLueen Dowager, has proved deeply and affectingly 
interesting. We are glad it has been given to the public. -— 

New Methodist Magazine, 

" Mr. Saunders has rightly judged that the story of an event 
so important in itself and in its probable consequences was 
well worthy of an English translation ; and we agree with him 
that its publication must subserve the interests of truth and 
piety. Every Christian Briton should possess himself of this 
neat little hook." — St. James's Chronicle. 

" The narrative is exceedingly touching, apart from its re- 
ligious bearings. The translation reads smoothly, in many 
parts, eloquently. The little work, when it becomes known, 
cannot fail to be extensively read." — Grant's London Journal. 

" This is one of the most interesting volumes we ever read. 
Mr. Saunders has executed the translation in a true and kind 
spirit." — Age. 

" This is no well-varnished story, but a plain narrative of 
facts; a narrative both interesting and instructive." — Bir- 

mingham Advertiser. 

" This is a publication of considerable importance at the 
present moment. We earnestly entreat our friends and sub- 
scribers to read and study this interesting volume." — Dublin 
Statesman. 

" The Quarterly jRevieio, for the month of June, 1840, 
drew the attention of the English public to Dr. Rheinwald's 
interesting'narrative of the persecutions practised upon a hand- 
ful of simple, honest and industrious peasants, who had pre- 
sumed to worship God in their own way among the magnificent 
mountains of the Tyrol. The reviewer gave an analysis of 
the little German book, together with copious extracts ; but 
Mr. Saunders here presents us with a faithful, and elegant, 
and a spirited translation of the whole, preceded by a preface 
ably written. Dr. Rheinwald draws a very graphic picture 
of the poor peasants of Zillerthal, and his little book will be 
read with interest even by these who are not sharers in all his 
zeal. The translation, we repeat, is exceedingly well done." 
— Metropolitan Magazine. 



■ 




THK 



% ^PROTESTANT EXILE 

»3 v 

I >J\ OF 

Y ZILLERTHAL; 



TM 



THEIR PERSECUTIONS AND EXPATRIATION FROM THE 

TYROL, ON SEPARATING FROM THE ROMISH 

CHURCH AND EMBRACING THE 

REFORMED FAITH. 



TRANSLATED 

IOM THE GERMAN OF DR. RHEINWALD 

M OF BERLIN. 



BY JOHN B. SAUNDERS, 



\ 



RST AMERICAN, FROM THE SECOND LONDON EDITION, 



NEW-YORK: 

CHARLES K. MOORE, 

142 Nassau -Street. 



1842, 



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Entered according to the Act of Congress, m the* \jt 

year 1841, by (m 

CHARLES K. MOORE, 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United Q 

States, for the Southern District of New York. I m 

a . 7 
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PREFACE. 



The substance of the following narrative, drawn 
up by Dr. Rheinwald, of Berlin, was first 
communicated to the " Repertory for Theolo- 
gical Literature and Ecclesiastical Statistics,"* 
a periodical of which he is the editor. It was 
afterwards enlarged and published in a sepa- 
rate form, the fourth edition of which has been 
used for the present translation. 

The subject to which it relates was, I believe 
first introduced to the English public by the 
Rev. Thomas Hartwell Home, who, in a ser- 
mon preached by him before the Corporation 
of the City of London, on Michaelmas-day, 
1837, in comparing the civil and religious pri- 
vileges of our own country with those of the 
Continent, took occasion to advert to the then 
recent case of the Protestant Tyrolese ; and 
added in an appendix, printed with the ser- 
mon, a short statement of the facts, derived 
chiefly from the "Archives du Christianisme," 

Subsequently, more lengthened details of 

* " Der Allgemeine Repertorium fur Theologische Literatur 
und kirkiiche Statistik." Jun. 1837, 



VI PREFACE. 

the event appeared in a leading journal,* and 
also briefer notices in some other periodicals. 
But the most formal and particular notice 
which the subject seems hitherto to have re- 
ceived in this country, was an article in the 
Quarterly Review, No. 127, for June in the 
year 1840, containing an extended analysis 
of Dr. Rheinwald's narrative, together with 
extracts, accompanied by an able and appro- 
priate commentary. To the present writer, 
however, it appeared that the story of an 
event so important in itself, and in its probable 
consequences, was well worthy of an entire 
English translation ; and could not fail, in that 
form, to interest many classes in this Protest- 
ant kingdom. The fact, also, that our late 
revered Sovereign manifested so great a sym- 
pathy for the case of these poor people, and 
was the first to interfere on their behalf, will 
doubtless contribute to the interest of the nar- 
rative in the eyes of the British nation. An 
account of the part sustained by his late Ma- 
jesty in this transaction will be found record- 
ed in its proper place ;f yet the mention of it 
here will scarcely be deemed superfluous, as 
it is probable that a circumstance so much to 
the honour of King William IV. is far less 
known than it deserves to be. 

With respect to the moral of the story, the 
lessons it teaches seem to be manifold. May 
we not hereby learn the still unchanged spirit 

* The Times Newspaper* t See page 62, 



PREFACE, Vll 

of intolerance and persecution of the Romish 
Church ? Some, indeed, may object to this 
statement, and allege, that the evidence incuk 
pates not the Church, but only the Austrian 
Government. I am very far from wishing to 
press, without full warrant, an accusation of 
this kind against a communion which has as- 
suredly no lack of such sins to answer for ; 
still it appears scarcely possible for any one, 
after having read the history with impartial 
attention, to doubt that the persecuting acts 
of the secular power were instigated by the 
ecclesiastical — that, in fact, what the State 
did in this respect, arose from its connection 
with the Church, and as the executor of her 
desires. The Austrian Government seems 
ever to have inclined to a lenient policy, and 
to give effect to its Toleration- Edicts ; but 
there was an influence paramount to that of 
law and justice, and even the Imperial will, 
and what was that but the dominancy of the 
priesthood ? But leaving this as a point to be 
settled by private judgment, all, it is presum- 
ed, will concur in admiring the calm resigna- 
tion with which these people sustained them- 
selves under their severe trials. Although for 
many years deprived of what was to them 
most dear, — the blessings of public worship 
and the holy sacraments, — they yet adopted 
no unlawful nor unauthorized measures to 
supply the deficency. Under all their mal- 
treatments, they showed no refractory resist- 



V1U PREFACE. 

ance to the lawful authorities, nor intruded 
on the sacerdotal functions* but patiently- 
waited until it pleased God to grant them 
their desires ; meanwhile, " they looked im- 
mediately to Himself for a supply of that 
grace, the external channels of which were 
denied to them." Yet were they not of a too 
soft and yielding temper, but proved by their 
conduct how compatible firmness is with a 
humble and tranquil mind. Their earnest, 
self-denying piety, their ardent love of truth, 
by which they were enabled to forsake all 
most dear to them for the gospel's sake, can- 
not but win our respect* and, one would hope 
will excite in some a holy emulation. Happi- 
ly, we are not required to make the like sacri- 
fices, but all who would be truly Christ's dis- 
ciples must be partakers of the same spirit. 

There are also several other lessons which 
appear fairly deducible from the narrative be- 
fore us — as the great value of religious in- 
struction, and church ordinances, the superi- 
ority of scriptual education over every other ; 
for these people, though unlettered according 
to the world's phrase, seem to have possessed, 
by virtue of their acquaintance with the 
Word of God, a clearer and more vigorous 
understanding, as well as a purer conscience, 
than many who have been most deeply taught 
in the learning of the schools. This is not 
said with a view to depreciate secular learning 
in its proper place, but only to urge its due 



PREFACE, IX 

subordination to that which is unquestionably 
the highest wisdom. But these and many- 
other inferences of great practical moment I 
rather leave to the reader's reflection, than de- 
tain him with any observations of my own. 

It may be well to add, that the account 
here given by Dr. Rheinwald was compiled 
not only from the materials presented by the 
various journals in which, on both sides, the 
subject has been largely discussed on the con- 
tinent, but that it is also the result of his own 
personal knowledge, " for he himself visited 
the inhabitants in their native land, and form- 
ed his notions of their doctrine, their habits, 
and their conduct, from actual observation." 
And now the narrative is commended to the 
reader, w 7 ith the hope that in its present form 
it may subserve the interests of truth and 
piety, and that its perusal may promote in all 
a juster appreciation and improvement of our 
own privileges, civil and religious. 

The Translator, 

December, 1839. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 

Situation and employments of Zillerthal — Property of the In- 
habitants — Their religion — The Saltzburgh Persecution— 
Schaitberger — Protestant Movements in the Tyrol — Appli- 
cations for dismissal from the Romish Church — Audience 
with the Emperor Francis — Catholic Reaction — Prince 
John and the Archbishop in the Valley — Petition to leave 
the Country — Government Edict - Page 1 — 21 



CHAPTER II. 

Internal circumstances of the Protestants — Form of their Ec- 
clesiastical life — Treatment of the Protestant Children in 
the Catholic Schools — Behaviour of the Priests to the sick 
and dying — Religious conversation in the year 1832 — Con- 
ferences of the clergy with several Dissidents — Contro- 
versial Sermons — Refusal of the marriage-tie, passports, 
&c. — Manner of the funerals— Extra-Ecclesiastical assem- 
blies — Adherence to the Bible among the Protestants — 
Their freedom from extravagances and sectarianism — Their 
leaders Heim and Fleidl — Heim's house a central point of 
union — The books in possession of the Protestants — 
Their want of School instruction and of the Holy Eucharist, 

22—49. 



Xli CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER III. 

Moral and social life of the Zillerdalers — Reproaches and ac- 
cusations of their enemies — Strifes and provocations be- 
tween the parties — Indifference to religion among the 
Catholics— Humble confession of the Protestants. 50 — 57. 



CHAPTER IV. 

Situation of the Protestants of Zillerthal with relation to other 
countries— Fleidl's letter to his friends in Bavaria — Visits 
of their brethren in the faith to the valley — Intercourse with 
Munich — Fleidl is deputed to Berlin, and addresses the 
King — Audience of the deputy — Admission into the 
Prussian dominions - -------- 58 — 68. 



CHAPTER V. 

The emigration from Zillerthal — preparations for departure- 
Disposition and behaviour of those who remained in the 
valley — March of the Exiles through the country above the 
town of Ems — Their reception by the Protestants in Rut- 
zenmoos and Efferding — Parting scenes in Finkenberg — 
Opinions of the Catholics concerning the Exiles — Their 
performance of divine worship on the mountains — Meeting 
of the emigrants with a priest — Their reception by the Pro- 
testants at Thenning and Gallneukirchen, and scornful 
treatment at Iglau --------,- 69 — 81. 

[CHAPTER VI. 

Arrival and settlement of the Zillerdalers in Silesia — Entry 
into Miehelsdorf — Day of rest there — Arrival in Schmiede- 
berg — Thanksgiving-day — Distribution of Bibles — Schools 
for the old and young among the Zillerdalers — Their recep- 
tion into the national compact, and into the" established 



CONTENTS. Xlll 

Protestant church — They partake of the Holy Eucharist 
under both kinds — Provisional committee for the strangers 
—Bible instruction — The Zillerdalers celebrate the anni- 
versary of the Reformation in Fishbach — They are visited 
by a Silesian at Schmiedeberg — Joy and sorrow in the con- 
l gregation — Testimonials concerning the Emigrants — Con- 
' eluding reflections -,--.---- 82—103. 

Appendix - - - ..-_- = -.- 104__107 



THE 



EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL, 



CHAPTER I. 

Situation and employments of Zillerthal — Property of the 
Inhabitants — Their Religion — The Saltzburg Persecution 
— Schaitberger — Protestant Movements in the Tyrol — Ap- 
plications for dismissal from the Romish Church — Audience 
with the Emperor Francis — Catholic Reaction — Prince 
John and the Archbishop in the Valley— Petition to leave 
the Country— Government Edict, 

Such various and, in some measure, conflicting 
reports,* have for several years been circulated re- 
specting the religious movement in the Tyrol, that 
it has become necessary to treat the matter some- 
what in detail, especially as it has now taken a de- 
cisive direction. 

But before proceeding to the subject itself, it will 

* Dr. Rheinwald here recites in a long note, which it does 
not appear necessary to present in full, the names of several 
journals and other publications, in which the matter was fully 
discussed both on the sides of the Romanists and Protestants, 
and thus evinces not only the great interest which the subject 
has excited in Germany, but also his industry in collecting 
materials for his own narrative. Indeed he seems not to have 
omitted any method by which he might make himself acquaint- 
ed with all the particulars. — 7>. 



2 THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 

be useful to premise some particulars respecting the 
district and its local peculiarities. 

In journeying from Saltzburg to Innsbruck, when 
the traveller has proceeded full two-thirds of the dis- 
tance, not far from Rattenberg and Schwatz, on the 
road to the village of Strass, there opens before him, 
between two majestic masses of rock, a wide and 
lovely valley. It is watered by the clear and fer- 
tilizing Ziller, which, issuing from the Southern 
Alps, flows into the Inn, immediately below Strass, 
and gives to the valley its name. The path winds 
along to the right of the stream, on both sides of 
which lie the villages of Brugg, Iming, Schlitters, 
Kapsing, &c. # Nearly in the middle, is the little 
town of Zell, the seat of a Deanery and a Landge- 
richt,t below which the wild Gerlos unites with the 
Ziller. The whole extent from the Inn to the Tris- 
tenspitz, which overlooks and closes in the valley, 
is about five miles.:): As far as Zell, the valley is 
of a tolerably equal breadth, but below that town it 
becomes narrower, ascending eastward to the steep 
wall of the Gerlos, southward to the Schwendauer 
Falls, and then again on the east, losing itself to- 

* The villages are thus enumerated by the author : Brugg, 
Iming, Schlitters, Fugen, Kapsing, Uderns, Neid, Marz, 
Slum, Kaltenbaeh, Aschack, Rohr, Huppach* Ramsau, Un- 
ter and Oberdichl, Hollenzen, Maerhof, Brandberg, Fink- 
enberg. 

t Landgericht, a kind of local court for the administration 
of justice, &c. 

t A German mile is equal to four and a half miles English. 



THE EXILES OF 2ILLERTHAL, 3 

wards the Dreieckspitz.* On both sides of the val- 
ley, rich meadows alternate with heavy arable land, 
at little distances diversified with the villages, with 
their pretty white houses, some with outside galleries, 
interspersed with farms and manors, chapels, inns, 
penfolds, &c. ; all overlooked by the surmounting 
green-clad church-spires, which with their golden 
crosses form an appropriate ornament to the neigh- 
bourhood. On the right and left, behind the pas- 
tures, mountains arise to an immense height, some 
clothed with wood, and with naked summits ; on 
others are well-cultivated meadows, parted into 
squares, having in the midst one or more cottages. 
From the commencement of the spring till the end 
of the Alpine season, these are the resort of herds- 
men with their cattle. A refreshing wind prevails 
on these heights, from which there is a charming 
prospect of a region luxuriant in vegetation, and ani- 
mated with industrious labourers, numerous flocks, 
and merrily sporting inhabitants. But for travellers 
the evenings are generally the most attractive, when 
the Ave-Maria is heard resounding from the high 
towers, t mingled with the distant tinkling of the 
sheep-bells, and when at a later hour, all forms hav- 
ing vanished, the slopes are suddenly illumined with 
the lights in the scattered mountain huts. With the 
exception of some small portions belonging to the 

* i. e. Triangular Peak. 

t During this while the people say their evening prayers , 
and in the summer season, outside of their cottages.— See the 
Frontispiece. 



4 THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 

Innthal, the valley is divided into two Landgerichts, 
(Fugen and Zell,) and contains, in fourteen pastoral 
stations, between 15 and 16,000 inhabitants. These 
gain their livelihood chiefly by agriculture and the 
rearing of cattle. The latter, followed here in the 
greater proportion and with extraordinary success, 
occasions many to go abroad, and not unfrequently 
into remote parts, as Petersburg, Cracow, Odessa, 
and Constantinople. The less opulent endeavour 
to rind employment in Styria and Carinthia by fel- 
ling forests, &c. ; a smaller number are mechanics 
in the founderies and manufactories of the Lower 
Innthal. Yet without these foreign resources, they 
would be well able to find subsistence, as their mea- 
dows, herds and forests supply their necessary wants, 
and of imaginary ones, especially in the upper val- 
ley, they have few or none. In general, property 
is pretty equally distributed ; there is nowhere ur- 
gent want, and a street-beggar is scarcely ever to be 
seen. Compared with other valleys, (the Pintzgau 
for instance,) the farms, on account of the abundant 
population and plentifulness of money, fetch a high 
price. A farm of " three cows," which produces 
scarcely sufficient corn for the consumption of its 
possessor, costs 3000 florins. In the Upper and 
Lower Pintzgau, a farm of ten or twelve cows, with 
a proportionate quantity of arable land, might be 
purchased for the same money. The inhabitants 
are strong, healthy, and well formed, but less re- 
markable for regularity of features and beauty of 
countenancp, than those in Dur and the Innthals, 



THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL, 

Both here and in the neighbouring valleys, there 
are still to be found many traces of the well-known 
Tyrolese manners,* much more frequently than in 
the south, which is inhabited by a mixed race, blend- 
ing both the German and Italian character. 

Good-nature, frankness, and friendliness, are ex- 
pressed in their countenance, and in their hearty 
greeting of the traveller, by whom these qualities 
are on a closer acquaintance, further recognised. 
It is true that their joviality is not unfrequently 
mingled with a degree of rudeness and extrava- 
gance. This is especially exhibited in their fight- 
ing and wrestling matches, in their predilection 
for animal combats, in their free and unrestrained 
dances,! and in the excessive loudness of their na- 
tional songs, so peculiarly characteristic of the peo- 
ple. It must moreover be esteemed a fortunate cir- 
cumstance for these districts, that they have hitherto 
remained tolerably free from the intrusion of foreign- 
ers and continental idlers, though, from the example 
of Saltzburg, southern Bavaria, &c, it is much to be 

* " They are a free, lively, and resolute people, that do not 
belie the character of the mountain folk." The authority for 
this is Voelter, a deacon of Wurtemberg, who visited Ziller- 
thal just as the Exiles were about departing. 

t When modern travellers, as Lewald and others, speak of 
i; the convulsive, cramp-like dances," we must not consider 
them as including Zillerthal. They are found indeed in Dur, 
its near vicinity, but are by peculiar circumstances confined to 
that district. 



6 THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 

feared that they will not wholly escape such cor- 
rupting influence. 

According" to their religious profession, the inhabi- 
tants of the valley belong to the Roman catholic 
Church. The ecclesiastical jurisdiction is shared 
by the two bishops of Brixen and Saltzburg, the 
Ziller forming the boundary of their respective dio- 
ceses. A large proportion of the Zillerdaiers are 
obedient to the Church : custom has maintained its 
dominion over them. They are Catholics,* because 
their parents, ancestors, neighbours, the respectable 
people, and the Emperor himself, are so. They 
also find it convenient, and have no particular reason 
to desire a change. Catholics, however, in the strict 
Roman sense of that term, such as are to be found 
in Dur, in southern Tyrol, and (formerly at least) 
in the south-east portion of the Lower InnthaJ, 
are here proportionably much rarer. This indeed, 
is almost confessed by the Catholic journals them- 
selves, when they lament over the want of piety in 
the Zillerthal ; a complaint, the truth of which we 
also concede, though in quite another sense. In the 
valley, there is a very large number wholly given 
over to indifTerency, who outwardly retain them- 
selves to the Church and observe its ceremonies, it 
may be from political or from family motives, but 
who, when they meet with others like-minded with 
themselves, do not hesitate to declare their real opin- 

* Throughout this narrative, the word Catholic must be 
taken as synonymous with Roman Catholic, or Anti-Protes- 
tant.— TV. 



THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 7 

ions. These are chiefly itinerant tradespeople, or 
roving minstrels, who, having travelled abroad by 
sea and land, have by their intercourse with others 
in theatres and taverns, become " enlightened." 
Recently, however, there has appeared in the valley 
another religious party, quite distinct from those 
hitherto described, which, though the smallest as 
to numbers, has yet, upon other grounds the strong- 
est claims to our attention. 

In order duly to comprehend its origin and char- 
acter, it will be necessary to glance at the Ecclesi- 
astical History of a neighbouring district, the arch- 
bishopric of Saltzburg. Here also was the voice 
heard, which, in the sixteenth century, went forth 
from Wittenburg, Pious men, as John Staupitz, 
Paul Speratus, and others, awakened and cherished 
the love of the gospel. E very where in town and. 
country, the call found an echo, especially among 
the miners in the south and south-western parts of 
the diocese. The new doctrine was but little aided 
by the superior ranks, and sharply opposed (es- 
pecially since the time of Rudolph the Second) on 
the Austrian frontiers; notwithstanding, there arose 
many Lutheran congregations, which were in the 
most flourishing condition, when, in the year 1729, 
the Archbishop, Count Firmian, decreed against 
them that persecution from which the arm of 
Frederic William, with the entire body of Protest- 
ants, was able to protect them no further than by 
obtaining for them the right of emigration. The 
consequence of this event was a lasting impression 



8 THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 

of terror. Neither in the reign of Joseph, when the 
mild Hieronymus governed in Saltzburg, nor later, 
during the French-Bavarian period, nor afterwards, 
(since 1815,) under Austria's new guarantees for 
Liberty of Conscience and Belief, do we hear any 
tidings of Protestant communities in Saltzburg. 
Most erroneously, however, should we thence con- 
clude that they had no existence. It is true that 
force and stratagem had, to an incredible degree, 
endeavoured to search out and extirpate all those 
who were disaffected to the Roman Faith ; yet a 
seed of Protestantism still remained. Especially 
was this the case in the Upper Pintzgau, the fron- 
tier of the present Tyrol, and in TefFereekenthal, 
which now belongs to the circle of Pusterthal. 
From these places there went forth a constant and 
active influence upon the Tyrolean districts, which 
became conspicuous not only in the provinces of the 
interior, but also in the capital itself The Luther- 
ans in and about Innsbruck were sought out and 
persecuted, as they were in the time of the Saltzburg 
emigration ; but many more remained unobserved, 
who secretly cherished the gospel in Zillerthal,* 
and the surrounding less frequented valleys. 

Their religious knowledge was here partly ob- 
tained from the visits of other inhabitants, but partly 
and chiefly it was derived from books. Among 

* Baron Von Moll (as the Catholic journals relate.) whose 
father was, at the close of the eighteenth century. Landrichter 
at Zell, says in his letter concerning Zillerthal. " Many unite 
in the exercise of religion, hut have another kind at home," 



THE EXILES 01 ZILLERTHAL. 9 

these, next to the Bible itself, the work of Joseph 
Schaitberger occupies the highest place. Schait- 
berger was a miner of Saltzburg, who, already, 
before the great persecution under Firmian, had 
been imprisoned on account of his belief, and as he 
steadfastly adhered to his profession, and moreover 
had re-asserted it by a written statement from his 
prison, he was afterwards banished the country. 
At Nurnberg, he sent forth, among other pious 
writings, his " Evangelical Epistle." In this he 
comforts and encourages his fellow-believers who 
remained behind, and explains to them in brief the 
substance of the faith. On account of its intelligible 
style, as well as being the work of a layman, it ob- 
tained extensive circulation and regard; and not 
only stimulated the joys of the faithful, but awaken- 
ed many more, both in the author's birth-place, and 
also in the neighbouring districts. In Zillerthal, 
especially, many copies were dispersed, which 
came to be regarded as family property, and had, as 
we shall see hereafter, a lasting influence. Other 
religious writings, not always indeed of the choicest 
kind, found their way into these regions ; the inhab- 
itants themselves brought back to the valley many 
books which they had acquired during their emi- 
grations. These journeys, undertaken for the pur- 
poses of commerce, form another particular to be 
noted as having influenced the movement among 
the people. The Tyrolese were always accustom- 
ed, as they are at the present day, to travel on busi- 
ness to Franconia, Suabia, and the Rhine. In 



10 THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 

these, for the most part, Protestant countries, they 
formed with the inhabitants, manifold connections, 
which, by repeated visits, became closer and more 
important. To any one acquainted with the man- 
ner in which such circumstances originate and are 
developed, it cannot but appear surprising that 
others should have talked of an intention " to se- 
duce," and of " proselytizing tendencies." The 
Tyroler, when he enters a house with his wares, is 
accustomed to talk freely concerning his journey, 
or his native country, whence a conversation arises, 
which perhaps is carried on much further. Others 
stay overnight in the houses of the mechanics and 
peasants, and remain with them on the Sundays and 
festivals. In such a peasant's house, it is customary 
to have prayer before and after meals, as well as in 
the morning and evening. On Sundays, in the 
morning and afternoon, they go to church ; after- 
wards some one reads out a hymn or sermon, the 
Tyroler being present and uniting with the family. 
In the circles which belong more to the so-called 
Pietists, the people, on Sundays and festivals, fre- 
quent the " Hours;" when some speak, or read 
passages from Arndt, Steinhofer, &c, or sing 
chorals. The Tyroler, if he has acquired a mind 
for these things, is permitted to take his part there- 
in. Should he, on his visit the next year, come 
again to the same house, he meets with a friendly 
reception, and receives, if he so request, a small 
New Testament, a copy of " Hiller," or a little 
" treasury." for his pocket. In all this, the people 



THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. li 

treat the Tyroler as they are accustomed to do the 
inland wanderer; they are rejoiced when a man, 
who, from his childhood having been taught noth- 
ing, has been only the ever-revolving machine of 
priestcraft, feels himself drawn by the Word of God, 
and gradually awakened to a new life. It thus 
came to pass, that the Tyrolese returned home quite » 
others than when they departed, bringing back with 
them not temporal goods merely, but such as abide 
for ever. 

It must not, however, be concealed, that while 
such beneficial consequences resulted from their in- 
tercourse with Protestants, there were instances of 
quite an opposite character. The writer himself is 
acquainted with several cases, wherein Catholic Ty- 
rolese, on coming to Protestants' houses, received, at 
least for the time, great spiritual injury. When the 
Tyroler in the morning on rising or at table, 
signed his cross or counted his rosary, there were 
not wanting men who laughed and mocked at him 
for so doing. With others it fared much worse. 
"Enlightened" peasants and mechanics who had 
read the Penny Magazine, showed to the Tyroler 
how absurd it was to confess his sins, to believe in 
miracles, &c. Others went so far as to declare the 
" Parson's babble to be all nonsense," and to pro- „ 
phesy the dawning of a "new era." On the stran- 
gers this made various impressions ; some coincided, 
others fled back to the church. A Tyroler who 
still remains a Catholic, answered such a one, " That 
you may hold here in this country, but with us it 



12 THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 

still remains just as it was." From the Protestant 
pulpits, also, there went forth a very unequal influ- 
ence. Some of the Tyrolese relate the deep relig- 
ious impressions which they received from such dis- 
courses, and which at all times since they have re- 
tained. Others of another character worked a 
chilling and repelling effect. So said, for example, 
an inhabitant of the Upper Innthal, " that he had 
thought with himself, that if a man speaks thus 
among the Protestants, where the pure Word of 
God ought to be, the best thing at last that can be 
done is, to keep away from church altogether." In 
this way Protestant influences had for some time 
been working in the Zillerthal, especially in the 
southern district, where, at length, in several parishes, 
persons simultaneously finding themselves possessed 
of the same sentiments, communicated one with an- 
other, and formed together a little religious commu- 
nity. By this mutual intercourse, their Protestant 
impression, both in life and doctrine, became more 
and more refined, and attained a firmer and more 
perfect form. The consequence was, that the disaf- 
fection which had long relaxed the inward bond, by 
which they had been attached to the church, became 
now also manifested in externals. It is true that 
some still performed their part at sermons, sacra- 
ments, processions, the veneration of the sacred ele- : 
ments, &c. But if these thus acted not without re- ' 
luctance, there were others who decisively tore 
themselves away, as deeming such things, according 
to the Word of God, to be idolatry. In short 



THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL, 13 

among all, the natural desire was excited to be able 
to come forward publicly with their Protestant con 
fession, and to exchange their hitherto painfully em- 
barrassing situation for that of a legally recognised 
community. Besides, with many, their experience 
in the Word of God had so sharpened and purified 
their sensibility to the truth, that such a false position 
became, at length, quite intolerable. Accordingly 
a number of men, heads of families, resolved to 
take the legal step for proceeding in the matter. 
Bartholomew Heim. J. Ram, Francis Steinlechner, 
James Kreidel, and his two grown-up sons, Matthias 
and Joseph, Matthias Drubmaier, James and George 
Hanser, from the villages of Ramsberg, Hollenzen, 
Maierhof, and Unterdichl, applied, in the summer 
of 1826, to their respective priests, for the " Six 
weeks' instruction." According to the law of the 
country, every one who wishes to go over to an- 
other creed, is obliged to receive such a course from 
his confessor, and to take a certificate thereof to the 
magistrate.* By the clergy this step was not un- 
expected ; they already knew some to have out- 
wardly separated from the church, and of others, be- 
cause they had declared it at confession, that they 

* And then " the magistrate gives the so-called ' Meldezet- 
tei,' that is, a written permission to frequent Protestant wor- 
ship. Without the priest's certificate, the magistrate cannot 
grant the permission, and without this written permission no 
one bred a Roman Catholic dare be present at Protestant wor* 
ship, or be received into a Protestant community." — Gtuar. 
Rev. vol. Ixiv. p. 123. 

9 



14 THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 

read the Scriptures to their edification. For the rest 
who were regarded as confirmed heretics, there was, 
on the part of the hierarchy, nothing further to be 
done. To these their applications some of the ec- 
clesiastics opposed themselves with moderation. 
Gottsamer, since dead, at that time Dean of Zell, 
behaved to them with great kindness ; he entered 
into their objections, replying to them with mildness, 
and expressed the hope that the matter would be 
amicably terminated. In other parishes, on the con- 
trary, both sides obstinately defended their own 
views, and, instead of uniting, were only driven fur- 
ther apart. From one of their priests the Protest- 
ants separated with the declaration that they, ac- 
cording to the example of Joshua, (2 Chron. xxxiv. 
2,) would turn neither to the right hand nor to the 
left. As in the meanwhile new applications for the 
" Instruction 55 continued to come in, the clergy 
unanimously resolved for the present to refuse them ? 
and to apply to Innsbruck for further directions. 
The government communicated the matter to the 
two ordinaries, who approved of the measures adopted 
by the chapter of Zell, and protested against any es- 
tablishment of a Protestant worship in the country. 
Thereupon the government at Innsbruck referred 
the matter to the Imperial Court. Five years 
elapsed without any decision : during which period 
the number of applicants for the instruction had in- 
creased more than ten fold. Already, in the begin- 
ning of the year 1832, there might have been 
named two hundred and fortv individuals inclined to 



THE EXILES OF ZILLEUTHAL. 15 

Protestantism, being, for the most part, shepherds, 
mechanics, labourers, &e ; a few of them farmers 
and freeholders. In the summer of that year, the 
Emperor Francis visited the Tyrol. The Protest- 
ants sent from their midst a deputation of three men 
John Fleidl, Bartholomew Heim, and Christian 
Brucker, to Innsbruck. There the Imperial Coun- 
cillor Sondermann, to whom their cause was refer- 
red by the local government, sent them an advocate, 
who drew up a petition, in which their decided wish 
to erect a filial congregation, which, at certain times 
in the year, should be visited by a Protestant pas- 
tor. 

The emperor received them with his usual cour- 
tesy, read their petition, and then questioned them in 
the following manner : — " Well, who, then, disturbs 
you in your belief?" — The Deputies. "The Cler- 
gy"— Emp. " What then do you believe?" — 
Dep. " We believe the words of Holy Scripture, 
according to the principles of the Augsburg confes- 
sion." — Emp. " You believe in Christ, even as I, 
do you not ? But in Italy there are people who do 
not believe in Christ at all ; that grieves me." — Dep. 
i: Yes, we believe in Christ as our Lord and Saviour, 
and only Redeemer ; but they will not suffer us in 
Zillerthal to say this." — Emp. " It is not permitted 
for the Catholics to oppress and insult you, any 
more than for you to insult them. Formerly, over 
there in Saltzburg, the Lutherans were not tolerated ; 
but it is now no longer so ; I oppress no one on ac- 
count of his belief But how, then, did you come 



16 THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 

by your present opinions V 1 — One of the Deputies. 
" We have had the Holy Scriptures among us longer 
than we can ascertain. We have Bibles which are 
more than two hundred years old. My grandfather 
was aged ninety-eight years, and died only three 
years ago, and he had read the Scriptures from his 
childhood, and so has my father, and so have I, and 
many others; the doctrine was instilled by their pa- 
rents." — Em]). "Indeed; there is perhaps a rem- 
nant of the Saltzburgers remaining : were you 
Saltzburgers ?" — Dep. " Yes, we belonged to the 
Saltzburg territory sixteen years ago." — Emp. " So, 
then, you are not willing to remain in the Catholic 
Church." — Dep. " Our conscience does not permit 
us; we should otherwise be hypocrites." — Emp. 
g No, that I do not wish ; I will see what can be 
done for you." As the people, on departing, again 
urged their request, and assured the Emperor " that 
they were brave people, who had suffered no pun- 
ishment, and begged that he would not forget them, 
nor believe any thing which might be said against 
them ;" he replied, c ; I will not forget you, nor be- 
lieve anything bad of you." The news of this in- 
terview excited great attention in the Valley. Their 
protestations were declared to be " lies ;" yet it was 
deemed advisable that some counter-steps should be 
taken. Several congregations of the Landgericht 
of Zell likewise sent a deputation to the Emperor, 
who deprecated any religious divisions in the coun- 
try, and prayed, lest the bond of the nationality 
should thereby be loosened, that the petition of the 



THE EXILES OF ZILLtiRTHAL. IT 

Protestants might not be granted. The matter was 
soon after discussed at the Tyrolese Diet, at which 
several in the rank of burghers and farmers showed 
a disposition towards toleration. Dr. Maurer, the 
burgomaster, a distinguished and esteemed inhabi- 
tant of the capital, urgently expressed his opinion 
that the people should be allowed to live according 
to their own belief. In the meanwhile, the clergy 
and nobility sent a petition to the local government 
in which it was asserted that the Toleration Edict 
had never been published in these districts, and 
could not now have an ex post facto application.* 
Towards the middle of the year 1834, the Protest- 
ants received from Vienna the following decision, 
dated April 2d : — " We find it impossible to accede to 
your request. If, however, you are desirous to 
leave the Catholic Church, you are at liberty 
to settle in another province of the empire, where 
there are already Protestant congregations." To 
such a transportation, however, the greater num- 

* " A pretence which could deceive no one acquainted with 
the facts of the case. When the Emperor Joseph published his 
edicts, he sent them to the sovereign prelates, the Prince Arch- 
bishop of Saltzburg and the Bishop of Brixen. It is true 
that they quietly deposited them in the archives ; bat that 
does not at all alter the state of the case. The fact that the 
Emperor sent them to these two prelates for publication and 
execution is quite sufficient to show that his Imperial will 
was that they should serve as law in their respective dioceses ; 
and more is not needful to prove that the Zillerdalians were 
entitled to the full enjoyment of all the liberty which they 
conferred." — GUiar. Rev. vol. lxiv : p. 127. 



18 THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL 

ber showed no disposition. They had already di- 
rected their eyes to a foreign country, and accord- 
ingly, in the summer of this year, some of them 
requested a passport. The next spring they receiv- 
ed the following answer : — 

4t It is hereby notified to those persons who on the 30th of 
August of the last year applied for a passport to go into foreign 
parts, that in pursuance of the official intimation of the 15th, 
received in the present month, that application, according to 
the high Government decree of Feb. 6, must be refused, on 
the ground that the granting of a passport for the purpose of 
their future emigration is neither necessary nor allowable, in- 
asmuch as, conformably to the Imperial Resolution of April 
2, 1834, if they cannot alter their religious views, and so can- 
not, or will not, remain in the Tyrol, they have only to transport 
themselves over into another Austrian province, where there 
are already Protestants ; on the other hand, by a statement 
of good conduct and property qualification, even their foreign 
reception for the purpose of a formal emigration can be effect- 
ed without cost, through the authorities, and then a personal 
appearance for buying into the foreign country will be neces- 
sary. 

" Given at the Imperial Landgericht of Zell on the Ziller, 
March 7, 1835. (Signed) " Schlechter." 

tc To the applicants 

B. Heim and J Fankhauser." 

Not long after this, the Archduke John, the bro- 
ther of the deceased Emperor, visited the Tyrol. 
The Zillerdalers were requested by their Land- 
gericht to seek an audience with him ; whereupon 
three of them appeared before the Prince. They 
told him how often they had requested a passport ; 
that they were ns sheep without a shepherd, and yet 



THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 19 

that the deceased Emperor had promised them every 
good. In reply, it was intimated to them that they 
had misunderstood the Emperor ; that he had pro- 
mised them toleration, not in the Tyrol, but only 
generally in the Imperial States. — The Deputies. 
" No, we well understood him, because he spoke to 
us so distinctly. We prayed him to grant us tolera- 
tion in our own family circles." As they now 
were warned to make no further stir about the mat- 
ter, and to take care lest, in the end, it should cost 
some of them their heads, they repeated their wish 
to see personally their Emperor Ferdinand. The 
Archduke. " To orderly subjects it is permitted to 
go to the Emperor. Give in your request at the 
bailiwick ; you will not be refused a passport to 
Vienna." — Dep. "Ah! if we could do that, then 
we should have hope. The late Emperor Francis 
was a good emperor and a brave man ; and after a 
good father, as the proverb says, there comes a good 
son." As there were present at this audience several 
nobles of the province, and among them the Captain 
of the Circle* from Schwatz, one of the Deputies 
thought this a fair opportunity to demonstrate their 
moral conduct and good deportment as citizens. 
"Indeed," said he to the Prince, " I think we are 
orderly subjects ; my lord the Captain cast all kinds 
of bad accusations against me when I went to 
Schwatz ; but to-day the superintendent of our parish 

* Kreishavpfmann ; an officer whose powers resemble those 
of our county lords lieutenant. 



20 THE EXILES OE ZILLKRTHAL. 

is in Zell, whom T can fetch, and here is the Land 
gericht, and there are also three witnesses present ; 
if now any one knows anything wrong of me. 
though it be only a little point, I will suffer double 
punishment, and so also will the others ; nothing- 
shall be concealed." On this declaration, there fol- 
lowed no accusation from the other side. 

In the summer of 1836, the Archbishop of Saltz- 
burg, Prince Schwartzenberg, came into the valley. 
He ordered several of those inclined to Protestant- 
ism to be brought before him, and represented to 
them that they ought to remain in the church. His 
mild demeanour inspired them with confidence ; 
they laid before him the authors according to which 
they thought themselves bound to belong to the 
Protestant communion, and begged that they might 
be permitted to attach themselves to that church. 
Whereupon he observed, " That would be as if you 
wished to throw yourselves into the fire ; to that I 
cannot consent." 

Relying on the fore-named promises, they renew- 
ed their applications for a passport to Vienna. 
Meanwhile, these were disregarded ; the only reply 
to them was a repetition of what had been said be* 
fore, " that it would be a great affront to the Empe- 
ror if they were again so to trouble him." Hereupon, 
in the course of the year 1836, these people formed 
the resolution, which also they communicated to the 
authorities, to forsake the valley, and to seek an asylum 
in foreign parts. In January, 1837, a resolution 
was taken in Vienna, which in the month of March 



THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 21 

was published by the Captain of the Circle in the 
various districts, by which, as they preferred foreign 
emigration, they were directed to leave the country. 
A term of four months from the date of publica- 
tion was granted for settling their affairs. For the 
furtherance of their purposes in a foreign land, one 
of their leaders obtained, on apolication, the following 
official certificate : — ? 

" According to the express will of his Majesty the Emperor, 
those inhabitants of the Zillerthal who have declared their in- 
tention of forsaking the Catholic Church are desired to leave the 
Tyrol, and either to emigrate into a foreign land, or to find a 
domicile in another Austrian province, where there are com- 
munities of the same religious creed that they themselves pro- 
fess. John Fleidl, and those his companions who have de- 
clared their preference for an entire emigration, are hereby 
authorized to take such measures for the finding a convenient 
place of settlement as may be necessary in consequence of 
the official order of the 8th instant. 

" From the Imperial Landgericht of Zell on the Ziller, 
"11th of May, 1837. 

(Signed) " Schlechter." 



CHAPTER II. 

Internal circumstances of the Protestants — Form of their Ec- 
clesiastical life — Treatment of the Protestant Children in 
the Catholic Schools — Behaviour of the Priests to the sick 
and dying — Religious conversation in the year 1832 — Con- 
ferences of the Clergy with several Dissidents — Contro- 
versial Sermons — Refusal of the marriage-tie, passports, 
&c. — Manner of the funerals — Extra-ecclesiastical assem- 
blies — Adherence to the Bible among the Protestants — 
Their freedom from extravagances and sectarianism — Their 
leaders Heim and Fleidl — Heim's house a central point of 
union — The books in possession of the Protestants — Their 
want of School instruction and of the Holy Eucharist. 

Before we further pursue the course of events, 
let us contemplate more closely the circumstances in 
which these people were placed by those which have 
been already narrated. If their former situation was 
a painful one, it was now, since the refusal of the 
six-weeks' instruction, doubly unsettled and embar- 
rassing. They saw themselves, indeed, in an un- 
happy dilemma. Devoted in heart to the Protest- 
ant church, they yet could not, and dared not, turn 
to it, though they willingly would have contributed 



THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 23 

to a church and school-system all needful support. 
From the Catholic church inwardly separated, they 
yet formally belonged to it, as not having received 
their dismissal, and because their civil relationships 
were manifoldly implicated with the ecclesiastical 
It thus occurred that their religious life assumed the 
following forms: (1.) The new-born children of 
those inclined to Protestantism were brought into 
the Catholic churches and there baptized ; the pa- 
rents not being present, and the sponsors belonging 
to the church. (2.) The grown-up children, so 
soon as they had attained the age prescribed by law. 
were constrained, as having been baptized in the 
church, to attend the local schools. They were 
likewise required to partake of the Holy Commun- 
ion, which, in these countries, is administered to 
children at the age of eight or nine years. (3.) The 
Catholic rite of marriage was refused to those dis- 
posed to Protestantism. (4.) Both in sermons and 
the confessional, the Catholics were warned against 
all intercourse with them, and the poor were forbid- 
den to ask any alms or shelter from the " Evangeli- 
cals : 5?# neither were domestics and labourers to re- 
ceive from them any service or employment. (5.) 
The priests came to the sick, admonishing them to 

* " Two poor Protestants had their habitation under the 
roof of a Catholic peasant. When the priest at M dis- 
covered this he desired the peasant no longer to give them 
shelter. They, in consequence, would have been destitute 
of any home, had not the Protestant J. K., though, in needy 
circumstances, taken them under his voof "-—Appeliiis. 



24 THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 

recant and to be reconciled to the church, promis- 
ing them, on this condition, the Holy Viaticum. 
(6.) Those who died holding sentiments opposed to 
the church were not received into the Catholic burial- 
ground. 

It is evident from what has been hitherto describ- 
ed, that the clergy had not overstepped their authori- 
ty, and even if they did somewhat encroach, their 
instructions and discipline were designed as well to 
preserve their own flocks from the infection, as to 
arrest those who had gone astray. But when, as a 
reason for the first and second of the above-mentioned 
procedures, it is further alleged that the parents were 
deluded — that the poor children ought not to suffer 
on that account by having the sacramental blessing 
withheld from them — that rather, since they had 
properly no parents of their own, the obligation was 
greater to provide for their salvation by means of 
Christian sponsors and school instruction, — we must 
then not only deny the proposition to be strictly ap- 
plicable, but must also inquire how such a tender 
care for the children of Protestants, introduced and 
retained by the clergy in Catholic schools, was real- 
ized in practice. Since the period of this separation 
of the Protestants, the clergy had deemed it neces- 
sary to keep a stricter watch over the education of 
the people, and even to put a hand thereto in respect 
of their religious instruction.* 

* This demonstration on the part of the Protestants appears 
also in other respects, to have worked a beneficial influence 
on the Catholic Church; and especially by enlivening the 



THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 25 

Some schoolmasters who, with a well-meant inten- 
tion, had kept back their instructions on the points of 
difference, were for so doing, degraded and displaced, 
while that method of teaching was brought forward 
in the most marked and prominent manner. Not 

zeal of the clergy. At leastj the Catholic journals report, 
li That in consequence of the increase in the population dwel- 
ling at great distances on the steep mountains, the number 
of helping priests was increased, and more filial schools were 
erected. The assailed doctrines became of necessity, more 
the subjects of discussion and proof in sermons and discourses 
than heretofore. On the mountains, the so-called house 
lecturers were more frequently held in spacious rooms, or in 
fine weather, in the open air, followed by certain prayers on 
the Sundays and festivals. It thereby happened, that among 
the inhabitants of the valleys the Catholic religion received a 
new impulse, which was especially exhibited by the rising 
youth, who became in all respects much improved, more mo- 
dest, and better conducted. They now no longer resorted so 
frequently to the dances ; and even the national costume of the 
other sex, so little corresponding to female delicacy, began to 
be changed essentially for the better. The service of God 
was more diligently attended, the holy Sacrament received 
with greater zeal, and good books of prayer and edification 
were diffused among the people. Where, for example, in 
former years, two priests went on Sundays to the confessional 
at five o'clock in the morning, and had finished by seven or 
half-past seven, there are now generally three who give them- 
selves to the work at the hour of four, and at the later ser- 
vice are occupied with it until nine or ten. The last Jubilee 
appointed by Gregory XVI. was observed with great zeal, 
and the many general confessions afforded no uncertain signs 
of a moral reformation. And, in general, the instructions in 
the churches have been more edifying, since the separatists 
have ceased to visit them." 



26 THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 

only were the adverse doctrines condemned, but their 
adherents were anathematized, and so individually and 
minutely described, that the children could not fail 
to perceive that a father, brother, or neighbour, was 
intendod. The protestant children now became con- 
fused ; their schoolfellows laughed at them : and on 
going home there were many disputes and provoca- 
tions. The children, in consequence, would not any 
longer go to the school, and this was imputed to 
their parents, and alleged as proof of their ungov- 
ernable obstinacy and rudeness. Children of other 
parents, as, for instance, those of farmer Heim, did 
not wish to neglect their school, but went again by 
the direction of their father, and gave such excellent 
answers to their teacher, and proposed to the latter 
such questions in return as were no less astonishing 
to the other children than embarrassing to the mas- 
ter. Scholars of such sort were expelled the schools, 
" because they were pert and unmannerly, resembled 
their parents, wished to be cleverer than their priests* 
did not come to the communion," &c. In other schools, 
different means were resorted to in order to get rid 
of the children. " But I shall still send both mine 
to the school," said a mother to the author, full of 
noble scorn ; yet a month ago George came home 
and said, ' Now the schoolmaster has made two 
tables ; at one he places the Christian children, at the 
other the devil's children ; at this we sit, I and Ma- 
ry and Hanser's three.' "* 

* Another instance is given in the u Auserlesene Erzah- 
Iungen." '•'• The clergy said to the children. ' You will neither 



THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 27 

Not less extraordinary, and as little befitting the 
dignity of their office, as well as contrary to their 
" Instruction,"* was the conduct of the clergy to the 
sick among the Protestants. At the commence- 
ment of their visits, they commonly made gentler or 
stronger reproaches concerning their apostasy. If 
the sick man answered nothing, he was offered re- 
conciliation with the church by means of the Sacra- 
ment. But if he expressed any objections, he was 
immediately assured by the ecclesiastic, that in case 
of his refusal he could be granted no place in God's 
acre,f no prayers, no masses for his soul. Still 
worse it fared with others. Long had a priest 
wearied himself with a countryman named Simon 
Hanser. When he saw him approaching his end, 
he called out to him, " Hanser, thou art going 
straight to the devil." A wood-cutter was struck 
down by the fall of a tree ; his wound was thought 
incurable. While he was in a state of insensibility, 
he received the Host from a priest who was called 

go to heaven, nor to the churchyard.' The children, ' We 
are content if we go to the same place as our parents.' " 

* According to this, the priest is obliged, even though not 
called in, to visit the sick man once. Should he omit, the 
local authorities are to make a representation thereof. But it 
is expressly said that " the priest shall proceed with all pos- 
sible moderation, kindness, and Christian love, forbear from 
all compulsion ; and if the sick person will not receive his 
assistance, then to withdraw without any further ado." 

t " Gottesadctr" an expressive term for a consecrated 
burial-ground. 



28 THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 

in by the others. When he recovered, he showed 
great surprise at the circumstance, and retained his 
connection, as formerly, with his Protestant breth- 
ren. 

Can one now wonder if there also occurred 
scenes of another kind, which bordered on fanati 
cism ? A shepherd on his death-bed fell into grea! 
mental anguish, and longed most earnestly to re- 
ceive the Holy Eucharist. As none of those wh<s 
had hitherto been his religious associates ventureo 
to administer the sacrament, he at last resolved to 
request it at the hand of the priest ; to his wife, 
however, this appeared as nothing less than a deci 
sive recantation, and she accordingly used every 
effort to prevent it. When all would not avail, she 
lay down on the bed by her husband's side, and 
with her hand presented to his mouth what appear- 
ed to him to be offered by the priest. 

But we must now pass on to another important 
point, to examine how the Catholic clergy behaved 
towards the Protestants, in respect of their teaching 
and instruction, as to their Catholic errors. In the 
summer of 1832, a religious conference took place 
at Unterdichl, in the house of Joseph Hanser. The 
dissidents assembled in great numbers : among the 
clergy who were present was P. Sander, Dean of 
Zell. Before the colloquy began, one of the priests 
asked John Fleidl, how it came to pass that the 
Jews were averse to know anything about the New 
Testament. FleidL " Rather this astonishes me, 
that many Christians who have the Scripture, and 



THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 29 

say they believe in it, do nevertheless not read 
therein. We cannot take it so much amiss in the 
Jews, because they, through money, were once de- 
ceived by the watchers at the grave." 

The Protestants now desired that the Bible might 
be made the ground of the discussion. This was 
conceded ; but the matter soon became again per- 
plexed, in consequence of the clergy introducing 
such points, as, the number of the Sacraments, In- 
dulgences, the Sacred Elements, and making them 
the chief subjects of discourse. 

When on the doctrine of the Sacraments, the con- 
versation turned on the Unction, and the passage in 
St. James, chap, v., being alleged for it, one of the 
priests read out the 14th verse. He then asked 
some of those present, whether they did not appre- 
hend that, seeing it was commanded by the Holy 
Apostle with the clearness of a sunbeam. There- 
upon a voice came out of the midst, " Very right, 
Mr. Co-operator ; but you have forgotten to read 
the 15th verse; there stands the main point." A 
singular incident occurred also during the dispute 
on Purification. The passage in 2 Maccab. xii. 34, 
fee, which is usually adduced for this doctrine of 
the church, was mentioned, and was required to be 
referred to in the Bible. What was the astonish- 
ment of the Protestants, when a learned student 
sought for this Apocrypha near the book of Joshua! 
In the meantime, in the handling of such subjects, 
there was a continual failure through shifts and eva- 
sions, while the chief and fundamental doctrines on 



30 THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 

which the Protestants at the beginning had so ur- 
gently insisted, remained altogether undiscussed. 
An entire afternoon was thus spent in vain: in 
the evening, the clergy complained of the peo- 
ple's obstinacy, rooted prejudices, want of clearness, 
&c. " It is, and will remain," they said, " a use- 
less labour to contend with them so long as they re- 
tain their own caprices in the interpretation of texts 3 
and will not abandon their private views." 

Not much happier effects resulted from the Pas- 
toral Conferences, which in several parishes were 
held with equal frequency as zeal. In the midst of 
a Protestant family, for a whole year, no pains 
were spared to bring them back into the bosom of 
the church. On one occasion, the Vicar declared, 
because they would believe nothing but what was 
contained in the Bible, that he would show them a 
passage in which the holy Apostle speaks of such 
people as they were, and from whence they might 
see what, after long patience, ought, in the end, to 
be done. Upon this he held forth to them the 
words, 2 Tim. iii. 1 — 9. The owners of the house 
kept silence ; but one of the neighbours present re- 
marked, that he also held that chapter in high 
respect ; that a few weeks ago he had heard it read 
in a house at Maierhof, where all had found the 12th 
verse, and not less verse 14th to the end, to be veiy 
important. Thereupon, another person added, that 
the prophecy occurred to him in which it is said, 
" There shall come priests and bishops, who know 
not the commandments of God." 



THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 31 

A Conference at Hiippach, which lasted several 
hours, and at which the people had behaved very 
boldly, was concluded by the priest with these 
words : " I only wish that the Lord Jesus Christ 
himself would come into the room, that I might say 
to him, See, these are the people, destroy them at 
once, by casting them into hell fire !" Still more 
important was a conversation held by the parish 
priest with Bartholomew Heim at Hollenzen. Just 
as the latter had recovered from a severe sickness, 
the priest came to him one day while he was in the 
field. " Bartholomew," said he to him, " you look 
very ill ; there is no great while longer for you." 
" At this moment," as Heim related it, " I felt so 
strong and well, that I instinctively replied, with a 
loud voice, God be praised and thanked, Reverend 
Pastor, it is not yet so bad ; the wife and children 
at home have still too much need of me." 

After this, their discourse turned upon the Holy 
Communion, and on the double form. The pastor 
repeated emphatically what had formerly been said, 
— " That there is as much contained under one 
form as under the other, that there can be no body 
without blood," &c. As the countryman now began 
to appeal to the Scriptures, the priest remarked, 
" There is no Bible here, nor is there any need of 
one." In the meantime they had arrived at the 
house, where the pastor was requested to stay a 
while. Heim proposed to continue the discussion 
by making a careful comparison of Bible texts. 
The pastor consented, and began by referring to the 



32 THE EXILES OF ZXLLERTHAL. 

passage, 1 Samuel, ii. 36, as in favour of the doc- 
trine of only one kind. Heim was of opinion that 
he did not understand the text aright, and that when 
the question regarded the Holy Communion, it 
would be better to abide by the New Testament. 
He therefore looked out and read in succession, 
Matt. xxvi. 26, John vi. 54, 1 Cor. xi. &c, accord- 
ing to the text of Luther. After each passage the 
ecclesiastic said, " Very well," and added, when 
the former had ended, " Yes, it is even again the 
old error ; you obstinately adhere to what is written, 
and will hear nothing of the traditions and ordinan- 
ces of the church." Heim. " The church to 
which I in heart belong acknowledges Christ as 
the Lawgiver, and honours his institution of the 
Supper. Therefore also is it contained in the Augs- 
burg Confession." Priest. " It is not proper for 
thy wife, and children who still go to school, to be 
sitting around while there is a dispute about sacred 
things. Either it must be given up, or we must go 
further into another room." The housekeeper took 
up the large Bible under his arm, and, as there was 
no other place, conducted the priest into the kitchen. 
On the hearth* he again opened his book, and with 
a loud voice read the 10th Article from the Confes- 
sion, whereupon the priest said, " There again the 
proof fails." Heim now was silent a moment, be- 
cause he did not immediately know what he ought 
to say. As he kept turning over the leaves, the 

* The hearths in these countries are built breast high, in 
the middle of the rooms. 



THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL 38 

priest remarked, "When you once get to your 
books, as I always say. On my coming in, I per- 
ceived that the wood was not yet made,* and — " 
Heim now suddenly exclaimed, " I have it Rever- 
end Pastor," and recited the 22d Article " concern- 
ing the Communion under both kinds." He might 
here have mispronounced several Latin names of 
doctors of the church, which occasioned the priest 
to say, " It really pains one to hear the holy names 
so distorted." This, however, did not embarrass 
Heim, who now came to the words " Therefore 
Pope Gelasius himself forbids the Sacrament to be 
divided." From these he inferred that there was a 
Papal General Church- Law against the opinion of 
the ecclesiastic, because he could not read the word 
" Gelasius," printed in the Roman type,t and so was 
obliged to take the words collectively. Thereupon 
the priest went away, lamenting over Heim's " very 
wise want of understanding," while the goodman of 
the house ran some distance by his side, reading out 
after him, " Therefore it is not permitted to burden 
those consciences that desire the Holy Sacrament 
according to Christ's institution of it, nor to force 
them to partake it against the ordinance of Christ 
our Lord." 

* An expression, the force of which will be perceived by 
remembering that these districts abound with wood, and that 
the people are much employed in felling timber. 

t The Germans print only the books written in their own 
tongue (and not all of these) in the Gothic type, all other 
languages with the Roman letter, 



34 THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 

From this may be seen what credit is due to the 
reports of the Catholic Journals, when they say, 
" These people cannot properly be reckoned among 
any of the acknowledged religious sects ; they have 
but little in common with the peculiar Protestant 
(Lutheran) Symbols; and even scarcely know the 
first among the confessions of that church (the 
Augsburg Confessions) by its name ;" and when the 
same report, partly in contradiction to that just cited, 
proceeds to make itself merry over the ignorance of 
these people. " A Clergyman went to a house 
where none but the ' Awakened' were. He asked 
them what then properly was their belief. Imme- 
diately the mother exclaimed, with earnestness, 
1 We believe in the Holy Trinity, and in the Augs- 
burg Convinion ; ' Yes,' repeated two children, < in 
the Most Holy Trinity, and the Augsburg Confic- 
tion. At length the father also observed, c in the 
unaltered Augsburg Confession.' " 

So far as any attempts to lead them back to the 
church were exhibited in sermons, they were neither 
unauthorized, nor, for the pulpit, unsuitable. The 
author himself has heard several sermons in the 
Catholic churches of these districts. Polemics 
were not as of purpose introduced ; and even when 
they did appear, they were not obtruded. Several, 
especially of the younger clergy, showed them- 
selves, by their statements and discourses, beyond 
all expectation to great advantage. Only one ser- 
mon contained anything extravagant. This was 
delivered on a St. Mary's day, when the lecturer 



THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 35 

took occasion to speak of Spain and Portugal. He 
vividly described the horrors in those countries— 
the burning of the monks, the destruction of the 
churches, the insulting of the nuns, &c, and con- 
cluded by declaring " And all this has been perpe- 
trated by the Protestants, therefore God preserve us 
from these people : it would be a pretty thing if 
such were to happen to us." Other particulars 
relating to this point were communicated by the 
Protestants themselves. If one of the Separatists 
attended at a sermon, he was remarked ; nor was it 
uncommon for the preacher immediately to advert 
to the ' Awakening :' in other instances the pre- 
sence of such a c Listener' was pointed out to the 
congregation. Indeed, the matter did not stop here ; 
invective, mockery, &c, concerning the Protestant 
church and its dogmas, interchanged with stories 
about the Reformers, the preachers, their wives, 
and children, and the like. Such unseasonable 
controversial discourses must not only have driven 
the Protestant still further from the church, but, 
much more, must have caused the weapons to be 
turned against itself. Of those who remained Ca- 
tholics, some became fanatics, hatred was excited, 
and the peace of the neighbourhood disturbed. To 
others of a better spirit, already stimulated to in- 
quiry, such sermons became as more certain way- 
marks. The Protestants, however, were by both 
these manifestations only the more strengthened and 
confirmed in the truth which they had previously 
apprehended. " Now is fulfilled," said one of the 



36 THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 

Protestants, " what the apostle says, ' We have a 
more sure word of prophecy.' Others have begun 
to search into the Scriptures, while the priests 
abused, and the more they clamoured, the more 
came the people to the Bible." 

With regard to their municipal relationships, it 
is first and before all others to be observed, that the 
disturbances and misunderstandings which occurred 
in that respect, took place in connection with the 
church, and as a consequence of the dismissal not 
having been granted to the Protestants. Whatever 
the secular power did and ordered in this behalf 
was done with reference to the existing ordinances 
of the church, or as the executor of the same. Let 
us take, first, the case of the marriage-contract. 
" Matrimony," so the Catholic Journals explain the 
matter, " was refused to them, it is true," (according 
to another report, however, "the case scarcely ever 
happened,") "and could not well be otherwise, on 
the simple ground that the government does not 
permit among people who do not yet belong to any 
of the tolerated creeds a merely civil or Protestant 
contract, at which the Catholic priest must be pre- 
sent to witness the declaration that the parties take 
each other in marriage, and because it is not requir- 
ed of the Catholic clergy, from regard to their lib- 
erty of conscience, that they, to people who do not, 
or will not, belong entirely to the Catholic church, 
should give the nuptial blessing." 

The next particular to be considered is, their ex- 
tra-ecclesiastical assemblies. These had by the po- 



THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 37 

lice authorities been partly prohibited and partly ren- 
dered impracticable. They, in fact, performed all that 
the church did and legally could require. Other- 
wise it must not be suppressed, that the Protestants 
themselves describe this procedure of the magistracy 
as a mild one. It was, for the most part, only ad- 
monitory, never strictly penal. The Protestants 
also express their great satisfaction that, on the part 
of the Landgericht, they were not deprived of their 
Bibles and other books of edification, # although the 
authorities knew that they had such, and were still 
adding to their store. On every occasion, they cele- 
brate in an especial manner the personal treatment 
they received from their Landgerichter. " He 
is the best," said one ; " we would rather a thousand 
times speak with him than with the clergy, for he 
lets one come to the Word." 

On the procedures of the church, also, depended 
the form and manner of burial among the Protest- 
ants. As the clergy would not admit the deceased 
into the Christian burial-ground, and in general did 
not at all concern themselves with the subject, it 

* Very different was the conduct of the clergy : — 
" A Zillerdaler had obtained from Munich a Catholic New 
Testament, a Lutheran Catechism, and several books of de- 
votion which he left at Innsbruck to be bound. A priest 
there, when he heard of this, took them away and sent them 
back over the borders. From the children of a deceased Pro- 
testant, a priest took the Bible and other books of edification 
left them by their father, declaring that the deceased had 
gone to hell, and that he had said a mass for his soul."— Ap- 
petites. 



38 THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 

naturally lay upon the magistracy, who could not 
compel the former, themselves to order and superin- 
tend the interment. The practice was this : the 
Protestants made known the case of death to the 
local inspector, who sent an official, as the beadle, 
&c, to the house of mourning. The place of burial 
was then discussed. If the deceased person had no 
property, leave was requested to bury him by another 
Protestant ; if this could not be, a piece of common 
ground, as in a wood, was selected. The policeman 
attended the funeral, and was rewarded with a florin. 
In this way the Protestants were protected from those 
disorders and disturbances which otherwise would 
have happened. Such protection they thankfully ac- 
knowledged ; nevertheless, they complained bitterly 
of the procedure ; for at the grave they were never 
permitted to say aloud any prayers, nor, as they 
once wished, to sing Luther's Hymn, # and then the 
policeman generally brought his dog with him into 
the funeral procession. We indeed behold in this, 
the most simple rights of humanity, in a revolting 
manner, trampled under foot, but cannot so easily see 
what was meant by the presence of the dog. Was 
it intended by the authorities as a sarcasm, or, as 
the people thought, an intimation of sepultura ca- 
nina ? 

* From a Catholic report : — " Of any kind of tender regard 
for the bodies of the dead they know nothing. They use no 
prayers on such occasions, and only care to put the corpse 
under ground. Neither do they place any, the least, memorial 
on the grave, but level it, and let it serve for pasturage as 
before." 



THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 39 

Still less intelligible are other ordinances of a 
purely civil character, which were by the authori- 
ties put in operation against these people ; as, for in- 
stance, the prohibition against their acquiring any 
property. Although occasionally certain conces- 
sions were made, the matter was yet sufficiently irk- 
some, inasmuch as it lay with the parish to make 
the decision. They thus became a prey to the ca- 
prices, intrigues, and rudeness of individuals, and un- 
happily the clergy did not keep themselves free from 
such unseemly interferences. More than once, the 
Pastor of Finkenberg took this method in order 
to rid his parish of persons inclined to Protestantism. 
With many also this refusal was attended with other 
disadvantageous consequences. A youth, on inherit- 
ing a freehold, becomes thereby exempt from the 
conscription. But the inclinant,* John Strasser, 
" because, on account of his religious principles, he 
was not qualified to take possession of his estates," 
was obliged to draw his lots for the conscription j 
however, he succeeded. 

Under this head also may be classed the difficul- 
ties which were laid in the way of the Protestants, 
when ver they requested passports. Had these been 
desired for the purpose of going into a foreign coun- 
try we could understand the reason of these obsta- 
cles. But, against all analogy, we find them em- 



* Indinant — a term employed, in a technical sense, to de- 
signate those who were inclined from the Romish church to- 
wards Protestantism. 



40 THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 

ployed to prevent the subject from visiting the capi- 
tal in order to see the father of his country. 

But the more these and other burdens pressed 
upon the people, the more was their Protestant feel- 
ing in its truth and reality manifested. They con- 
soled themselves, suppressing all bitterness, by say 
ing, " Yet much worse befel our Lord ; why, then, 
should we complain V 1 From such a refined senti- 
ment under oppression, it must be evident that no 
case occurred of purposed disobedience and resistance 
to the authorities. At all times, and under all cir- 
cumstances, they discharged their dut}r as subjects, 
and preserved their fidelity and allegiance to the 
reigning house. Even the last decision, which com- 
manded them to leave their native soil, wrought no 
alteration in this respect. Nor was it concealed 
from those among them who possessed the most 
insight, that the government so acted, as a regard to 
its circumstances and difficult position rendered un- 
avoidable. 

More interesting, however, will it be for our 
readers to take a glance at the religious state of 
these people. The author has had an opportunity of 
becoming acquainted with only a small number of 
them, and with but a few individuals so intimately 
as to be able to form a precise judgment concerning 
them. This, however, is not so difficult with a 
people so simple, open, and unpractised in any arts 
of dissimulation. 

As one of the ablest, and most penetrated with the 
character of the gospel, the already-mentioned Bar- 



THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 41 

tholomew Heim, of the village of Hollenzen, de- 
serves undoubtedly, to be distinguished. In him 
the creative power of God's Word has approved 
itself in a visible manner. Heim's father was a 
Catholic, and remained so to the end of his days. 
In his youth, Heim was in the service of a rich far- 
mer, in whose house he found Schaitberger's Epistle, 
which he took with him upon the Alps, and read 
while keeping his flock. From Schaitberger he 
went to the Scriptures ; afterwards he read Luther's 
Catechisms ; and some years later, the Confession^ 
and other edifying works. Heim showed a rare ac- 
quaintance with every part of the Bible, as also with 
the Augsburg Confession, an accurate understand- 
ing even of difficult passages, a fine clearness in 
discriminating between essentials and non-essentials. 
It is undoubtedly due to his discretion that his com- 
munity were preserved from fanaticism of a propheti- 
cal or other kind, which, under such circumstances, 
so easily attaches itself* This will be evidenced 

* " Among the Zillerdalers I perceived no appeal to any one 
as their chief, nor any fanatical opinions indicating a sectarian 
tendency. On the contrary, they ever sustained their faith 
by a diligent persuai of the Bible according to Luther's Ver- 
sion, and the older Protestant formularies by which they were 
guided to the right use of the former. They are also well 
versed in the Augsburg Confession, which they hold in high 
esteem. It is not, indeed, to be expected from country people, 
who, by this method, and without pastoral aid, had embraced the 
Protestant faith, that they should possess a perfect knowledge 
and insight in the theological system. Yet it were to be wish- 
ed that all members of the Protestant church had the words, 



42 THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 

by the following incident : — It had been told the au- 
thor by a beneficed ecclesiastic, that "these people 
were distinguished by their gross Chiliasm and ex- 
pectation of a speedy advent."* This induced him, 
on an occasion when several Protestants were as- 
sembled at Heim's to ask them, among other ques- 
tions, whether they read the Revelation of St. John. 
" Why not V 1 exclaimed one of those present, some- 
what surprised. Heim. " Thou dost not under- 
stand the gentleman — he has nothing against the 
Revelation ; and you know well that I have always 
said that a man ought to read the New Testament 
in the order in which it stands written, first Matthew, 
then Mark, &c. Our gracious God well knows 
wherefore it was given so to us." He afterwards re- 
lated that some of them had preferred reading in the 
Revelation, and he had told them that the apostle 

of holy scripture so firm in their memories, and so ready for the 
vindication of their belief, as the Protestant Zillerdalers with 
whom I conversed." — Dr. Petri, of Bautzen, in Saxony, who 
communicated to the author notes of his visit to the Zillerthal, 
in August, 1837. 

" To my surprise and joy, several individuals showed an 
acquaintance with the holy scriptures, and a distinct appre- 
hension of the passages for the proof of this or that doctrine 
which would shame many a theologian." — Appelius. 

* I suppose that the author here refers to attempts to fix 
dates, &c, ever the fatal rock to interpreters ofprophec}' ; for 
assuredly it is not fanatical and extravagant, but most scrip- 
tural and accordant with the apostolical injunctions, and of the 
very essence of the Christian life, not only to be looking for, 
but even hastening the coming of the day of God. (2 Peter, 
m. 12.)— TV. 



THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL, 43 

Paul must be first understood, otherwise they would 
not profit. " So," said he, " it happened to me, 
therefore I know it; with the Apostle Paul lies the 
kernel. He speaks of the old and new man, of Christ 
the one Mediator and Intercessor, of the only ground 
of our salvation, of faith, and justification through 
faith alone, and not by works, and exercises, and 
man's wisdom." 

When on a subsequent day, the discourse again 
turned on the Apocalypse, Heim remarked that the 
Revelation was too high for him, that he could not 
bring out all the visions. The author consoled him 
by saying that the same also happened to learned 
men. To which Heim replied, " Yet can I not 
deny that I believe these to be the last days. For 
what Paul writes, 1 Tim. iv. 1—5, and 2 Tim. iii.- 
1, &c, is ail coming to pass now, and may be seen 
amongst us." From expressions of this kind it may 
be that the above-mentioned reproach was framed by 
evil minds. With what correctiveness in other re- 
spects, and in what sense the Zillerdalers beheld 
these apostolic words fulfilled in their own experience, 
the reader himself may judge. We, at least, believe 
from the impression which these people made on us, 
that if, when the future lay darkly before them, any 
crude or unsound notions insinuated themselves, they 
would be wholly removed when a happier lot should 
be their portion. 

Next to Heim, the mechanic John Fleidl de- 
serves especial attention. He received a Protestant 
education, His grandfather, whose youth extended 



44 THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 

to the time of the Saltzburg Persecution, he having 
died at the age of ninety eight, was devoted to the 
gospel. He also possesses an uncommon knowledge 
of the holy scriptures. The texts cited by him he 
can give in the exact words of Luther's Version, and 
even with chapter and verse. For other reading, as 
tracts, fee, he showed, during his stay in Berlin, lit- 
tle inclination ; he always took the Bible in his 
hand, or the " Threefold Cover-leaf," which he 
carried with him on his journeys. Fleidl has a re- 
markable faculty of discourse, both in speaking and 
writing, rarely met with among people of his grade, 
and which Heim himself possesses not. He is also 
more tranquil and diffident than the latter. Without 
reason has his way of life been suspected by the ad- 
verse party. 

These two humble men are they whom we have 
to contemplate as properly the heads of this Protest- 
ant community. Both had, in consequence of their 
having for a series of years taken the lead in all af- 
fairs, won to themselves great respect, and enjoyed 
a paternal authority over the rest. To this also, in 
the case of Heim, it contributed not a little that he 
was the father of a family, and possessed a house of 
his own. To him the Protestants came to hear 
whatever was new regarding the affairs of their so- 
ciety, and to ask his counsel in things relating both 
to the body and the soul. In his house also there 
was a kind of Central library, containing the folio wing 
books: — 1. A Bible in folio, Nurnberg edition, with 
the Augsburg Confession; 2. Several New Testa- 



THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 45 

ments ; 3. Luther's Little Catechism, and Collection 
of Texts, Nurnberg, 1829; 4. Luther's Little 
Treasury for the New Testament, Stettin, 1738 ; 5. 
FederhafF's Fifty-two Bible Histories for Home 
and School; 6. Treasury of Hymns, the Psalm 
Book of Augsburg ; 7. Schmolke's Communion 
Book, with Morning and Evening Lessons, 1758 ; 
8. The Singing Mouth, a Nurnberg Hymn Book, 
1753; 9. Schaitberger's New Evangelical Epistle 
to the Saltzburgers ; 10. The Rose of Prayer and 
Penitence, 1783; 11. The Heavenly Table of 
Grace; 12. Buchner's Scripture Concordance ; 13. 
Storr's Confession and Communion Book, fifth 
edition, 1771 ; 14. Burk's Little Book for the Com- 
munion and Confession, Stuttgart, 1835 ; 15. Sell- 
er's System of Protestant Doctrine, Erlangen, 1778. 
A central library we have called this little collec- 
tion, as from hence those who belonged to it fetched 
the books for use, and afterwards carried them back, 
It was also designed by this arrangement to protect 
the inexperienced from being misled by improper 
publications, or such as might be put forward with 
a Jesuitical intention. Other pious writings were 
also found scattered in several houses ; as, for in- 
stance, Arndt's True Christianity, and his Sermons ; 
Luther's New Testament, with marginal observa- 
tions ; the Munich Protestant Hymn-book ; Hiller's 
Little Treasury; Spangenberg's Homilies: Mul- 
ler's Soul's Treasury ; Rezendorf 's Extract of the 
Threefold Cover-leaf, (Dreifache Kleeblatt,) con- 
taining a history of the Reformation, and of the de- 



46 THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 

livery of the Augsburg Confession. Some fathers 
of families brought home with them similar works 
from their journeys. " Yes," said a youth, " our 
deceased father brought from Suabia this beautiful 
book, and we children know it all by heart." 

These books also further served for the instruc- 
tion and cultivation of the youth. It is true, that 
they were so available only among such as had ac- 
quired the elements of reading and writing in the 
Catholic schools. Since the separation had taken 
place, the education of the children who were ready 
for school was undertaken by the elder members of 
the families, and partly by the parents. But they 
well perceived that this was an inadequate sub- 
stitute. " The children learn even nothing at 
all," said a father. " I would gladly teach them 
myself, were I not so bad a scholar." Another 
complained, " This causes me the most pain, that 
when on a Sunday the children hear us read out of 
the little book, they always say afterwards, that they 
also should like to learn." A third, w T ho through 
the winter had used all his efforts to educate his 
children, related, that " in the previous spring, when 
the boys were sent to the meadows to keep the flocks, 
they began to weep, and said, £ Now we shall never 
learn any more.' " To which the father replied, 
" Go forth in God's name ; he w^ill instruct you ; 
only be diligent in your prayers." 

In former times, those who were inclined to Pro- 
testantism were accustomed to hold great meetings, 
under the guidance and direction of the more ad- 



THE EXILES OF 2XLLERTHAL. 47 

vanced and eminent in their community. For the 
reasons already mentioned, these had latterly been 
discontinued, so that there remained to them only 
the service of God in their families. To prevent 
the evil consequences incidental to such a divided 
state, some individuals felt strongly impelled to ex- 
ercise a kind of pastoral care over the others. These 
visited the brethren, instructed, admonished, warned; 
and especially brought comfort to the sick and 
dying. Yet, notwithstanding their extensive influ- 
ence in this respect, and their deep insight and ex- 
perience in spiritual subjects, they ever forbore from 
— what must in their circumstances have been a 
strong temptation — all intrusion on the sacramental 
functions. This deprivation of the sacraments was 
attended with still other evil consequences. Many 
mothers were offended that their new-born children 
were brought into the Catholic churches, where 
none of their own sentiments could be admitted as 
sponsors, " because it would have endangered the 
child's salvation if a Lutheran had been its God- 
father." Add to this, it frequently occurred that as 
many of the Catholics refused, it being against their 
conscience, one of the clergy resolved at last to un- 
dertake the office. In former years, several had ex- 
pressed doubts as to the validity of such a baptism, 
which ceased, however, when the initiated had ex- 
plained what was essential to it* Still more critical 

* In order the more firmly to attach the baptized to the 
church, and to render their departure from it more difficult, 
every means was resorted to, to bring the children to confir- 



48 THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 

was the matter with regard to the holy sacrament 
of the altar. That they could not partake of it in 
the Catholic church is evident ; since, in order to 
this, they must first have purged themselves by 
penance, and have submitted to the withholding of 
the cup, which had always been to them an especial 
grievance. But even if they had so desired, it 
would not have been possible, as they would thus 
have declared their return to the church, and been 
involved in further consequences that would not 
have failed to follow. The want of this sacrament 
was indeed acutely felt by many, especially by fe- 
males, the aged, and the sick. Their complaints at 
the season of Easter, when all the people flock to the 
communion, were loud, and caused much grief and 
anxiety to their leaders and the heads of families. 
The embarrassment was greatest when the dying 
languished for this last consolation. Nevertheless, 
there occurred among them no contempt of the visi- 
ble sacrament, after the manner of the pseud omystics;* 
still less, as their adversaries admit, any self-willed 
administration of the sacred office. " No man shall 
administer the sacrament without a regular call," 
they said, with a knowledge as accurate, as their 



mation ; not unfrequently by persuading the mothers, bribing 
the relations, &c. Contrary to the custom of the church, this 
rite was administered to infants before they were a month old. 

* Even the Catholic Journals acknowledge, ". There was 
in no instance any the least trace of a false mysticism among 
the people." 



THE EXILES CF ZILLERTHAL. 49 

ooservance was conscientious, of the Augsburg Con- 
fession. (Art. 14.) 

Under these circumstances, among all the wishes 
expressed by these people, that for a regular church 
and school system was the loudest and most urgent. 
When asked whether they could support a clergy- 
man and schoolmaster, they replied, "Why not? 
Butter, and cheese, and bread, he shall have as 
much as he needs ; we can also build him a little 
house; but indeed we have not much money." 



CHAPTER III. 

Moral and social life of the Zillerdalers — Reproaches and ac- 
cusations of their enemies — Strifes and provocations be- 
tween the parties — Indifference to religion among the Ca- 
tholics — Humble confession of the Protestants. 

With respect now to the moral and social life of 
these people, there were not wanting, as may be 
supposed, reproaches of the most various kinds from 
the opposite party. They were charged with hav- 
ing in many ways offended against both civil and 
ecclesiastical order, and also against the general mo- 
rality. Accusations of the former kind, the Ca- 
tholic journals report in a more general way. Thus 
they say — C£ They derided the mysteries of the Ca- 
tholic religion, disturbed processions, crucifixes and 
images openly profaned, heaped insults against the 
Catholics and their priests, and even threatened them 
with death ; the tokens of the Catholic church, 
which their children received from the priests, they 
trod under foot ; at home, in the presence of their 
Catholic servants, they read to their children the 
most violent of the Protestant controversial writings, 



THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL, 51 

those edifying- books which they had brought with 
them from abroad, laughing out aloud at the pas- 
sages which contained the coarsest invectives against 
the Catholic church, and exclaiming to the reader, 
< That is fine, read that again.' They said, when 
any one, in order not to be a partaker in others' sins, 
called the attention of his priest to what occurred in 
such houses, that he was a e parson's beadle ;' and if 
any female in such a house or neighbourhood re- 
fused to coincide in their revilings, but behaved 
quietly, and diligently attended church, that she was 
a c parson's wife.' " 

For the forming of a right judgment on such ac- 
cusations, one finds a hint in these reports themselves, 
as they acknowledge that " such calumnies were 
wholly disapproved of by other members of the 
sect;" thus making the same distinction which has 
been already occasionally intimated.* Not all those 
inclined to Protestantism observed, indeed, that 
quietness and moderation, that propriety of demean- 
our and foresight, which were evinced by the in- 
dividuals who have been before described. Many 
suffered themselves to be carried away by their for- 
ward and vehement zeal against the gaudy appen- 



* " In general, the impression made upon me by these peo- 
ple was, that they were of a vigorous, powerful, and discern- 
ing nature ; that if sanctified by grace, and duly initiated in 
the spirit of the gospel, they would be capable of great 
achievements. For the present, among many, especially the 
youth, a polemical anti-Catholic tendency appeared to pre- 
dominate, which in their situation is very natural." — Voeltcr. 



52 THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 

dages of the Catholic worship. This occurred 
more frequently in the earlier years, and with manyj 
who neither hy a Protestant education nor intercourse 
had been humanized, not seldom bordered upon rude- 
ness. Unhappily, inconvenient discussions relating 
to religion and the church occurred, which were 
carried on without becoming prudence, and were 
even sought after, to the abandonment of all discre- 
tion and propriety. Whenever they happened on 
public occasions, as in taverns, &c, they almost in- 
variably led to bad results. Men irritated and pro- 
voked one another, took opposite sides, and both Ca- 
tholics and Protestants employed a coarse expres- 
sion,* which is natural to the Tyrolese. The news 
of such events ran rapidly through the valley. That 
there were much perversion and distortion of the 
real facts will surprise no one. A case, the report 
of which was attended by many consequences, was 
thus related by a person of undoubted veracity- — A 
smith, Joseph Hohenleitner by name, went one day 
to Maierhof for the purposes of his occupation. 
While he was drinking a glass of beer, in an ale- 
house, a priest passed by, carrying the holy com- 
munion to a person that was sick. Several Ca- 
tholics who were present left the room and went 
into the street, falling on their knees, according to 
their custom, in order to receive the priest's blessing. 



* Even the better and more earnest among the Protestants 
employed the phrase <c gluttonous parson," as a common form 
of speech, without intending anything especially offensive. 



THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 53 

Hohenleitner, however, kept his seat. Thereupon, 
one asked him, why he also did not go. Others 
were more urgent, until at last he broke out with these 
words, " I am not going to that Baal's work." For 
this expression he was afterwards condemned to 
eighteen weeks' imprisonment at Rattenberg ; since 
which period he has been sickly, as the water of 
that place is said not to agree with the Zillerdalers. 
Contentions of this nature occurred very frequent- 
ly, especially since such wonderful things happened 
in the country, which were told the people by the 
priests in their sermons, and adduced in proof of 
their religion. Such, for instance, were the story of 
the Holy Maid of Caldera,* the miracle at the 
bone-house of Zell;f and, lastly, the report of a 
dead body recomposed from the bones in the cata- 
combs, that was sent by the holy father to an in- 
habitant of Zillerthal. 

* The holy maid of Kaldern is properly a young lady 
named Maria von Moerl, of Kaldern, in Etschthal. Her 
vision and ecstasies have many things in common with those 
of the devout Anna Catharina von Emmerich, at Dulmen. 
Every Thursday at noon she suffers the agony in the garden ; 
on Friday morning she accompanies Jesus on his path of suf- 
fering, expiring at mid-day in the most violent convulsions ; 
on Christmas and Epiphany she is in the train of shepherds, 
kings, &c. At the season of her transformations, she hover.s> 
with hands folded, over her bed, bears in her hands the 
marks of the wounds, which on Friday evening gush forth. 
She is in her twenty-fourth year, and for three years has 
taken scarcely any food. 

t A withered lily in the hand of the Virgin's image at 
that place, which suddenly put forth new blossoms. 



54 ^THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL, 

The Catholic journals also contain other crimi- 
nations against the social and moral conduct of the 
Protestants. The author willingly declines the 
task of investigating and discussing all such accusa- 
tions, for the purpose of being able to refute them. 
Many of them are so general and undefined, that a 
minute acquaintance with localities and statistical 
details would be requisite in order to arrive at any 
certainty ; others, again, are so special, that a com- 
plete investigation by examinations, confrontations, 
&c, would be necessary; and, after all, it might ap- 
pear doubtful whether the facts could be truly as- 
certained, especially if relating to events long since 
past. 

Among the accusations of this class may be reck- 
oned the following report, contained in the Catholic 
journals : — u Scandalous," says the Journal for Ca- 
tholic Theology, "is their course of life; illegitimate 
births happen very frequently among them ; and it 
is a common occurrence for them to live together in 
contempt of the marriage bond, and by their cor- 
rupting example to mislead the thoughtless youth. " 
It is, however, remarkable, that " The Catholic," 
which otherwise omits nothing prejudicial in its 
description of the Protestants, says nothing of such 
an especial irregularity ; nor is it less surprising 
that the Catholic inhabitants of the valley are igno- 
rant of such flagrant offences. At the same time, it 
^annot be denied that there were instances among 
the Protestants of children being born out of wed- 
lock : this they themselves have admitted, referring 



THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 55 

as some palliation, to the refusal of the rite of mar- 
riage. A case, concerning which the Journal for 
Catholic Theology says, " It is one unknown even 
among the heathen," resolves itself, to the astonish- 
ment of the reader, into this, that a man from Rams- 
herg, on account of a misdemeanour committed while 
in a state of inebriation, had suffered fourteen days' 
imprisonment. When this story is accompanied by 
" The Catholic" with the fine phrase, " Such un- 
civilized men the little enlightened church carries in 
its bosom," it is to be remembered that the Protest- 
ants at no time rejoiced in such an acquisition. 

To all these movements against the Catholic 
Church, the religious indifference among the Ca- 
tholics themselves, as we have already noticed, 
forms the dark back ground. " It is no wonder" 
— such was the expression of one of this tendency 
— " that the people (the Protestants) run away from 
the belief and practice of things which are no longer 
to be believed in the present day." Yet to join 
themselves to the Protestants was far enough from 
the design of these daring spirits. " What folly so 
to rack one's brains with fanaticism and prayers, 
and the everlasting reading of little books!" For 
expressions of this nature, the Protestants had not 
unfrequently to answer, as when the Catholic jour- 
nals report that " One who had passed for a great 
light, and had turned many to his views, said to a 
Catholic, ' I have read the Holy Scriptures from 
my youth, yet have I found nothing therein concern- 
ing the Godhead of Jesus, and that men should pay 



56 THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 

him adoration, nor concerning his presence in the 
Eucharist ; you are only adorers of bread and idol- 
worshippers.' " That men of such a purely nega- 
tive way of thinking should by common report, be 
classed among the Protestants, may be easily con* 
ceived. Among these, however at least such as 
formed the main body, not the slightest trace has 
been met with by the author. They have, from the 
beginning, with their guides and leaders, belonged 
to quite another school. With wonderful delicacy 
of the moral sense, they at all times perceived, and 
openly acknowledged, in how many things they 
were still deficient, being in this respect much more 
keen-sighted than even their enemies. Thus, with 
grief, they confessed to the author, that during this 
course of years many things had taken place which 
ought not to have occurred, and which were especial- 
ly unbecoming in Protestant Christians. Not only 
have they lamented over the above-mentioned points, 
but also over their negligence in spiritual matters, 
over the fear of man which had kept so many from 
avowing their profession,* and their actual denial of 



* " They told me that there were numbers who only feigned 
being Catholics, but who would immediately fall away on 
their attaining liberty of faith, held back by the dread of losing 
their worldly substance, and of incurring the animosity of the 
priests, by which their life would have been embittered." — ■■ 
Appeliv.s. 

" They assured us that there were many in the Tyrol se- 
cretly inclined to Protestantism, as the Protestant leaven 
could never be wholly extirpated." — Voelter. 



THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL, 57 

known truth.* All, it was their opinion, would 
have happened far otherwise, and more favourably, 
had they been able to attain a regular church com- 
munion ; that rather one must wonder that no worse 
evil had befallen them, nor " can they sufficiently 
thank God, who hitherto has holpen them by pre- 
serving- their minds one towards another, and pre- 
venting them by His grace from so many dangers." 

* Appelius mentions several cases of betrothed persons not 
being able to obtain a legitimate marriage, except by returning 
to the Church and depositing a sum of money as a pledge for 
their fidelity. 



CHAPTER IV. 



Situation of the Protestants of Zilierthal with relation to other 
countries— Fleidi's letter to his friends in Bavaria — Visits 
of their brethren in the faith to the valley — Intercourse 
with Munich — Fleidl is deputed to Berlin, and addresses 
the King— Audience of the deputy — Admission into the 
Prussian dominions. 

The circumstances and situation of the Protest- 
ants in Zilierthal had been, in the main points, for 
several years, not entirely unknown in other coun- 
tries. Early in the year 1837, Fleidl communicated 
the following letter, which he sent to some friends 
in Bavaria.* 

" Most worthy Friends and Brethren in the Lord, 

"We, your Protestant brethren in Zilierthal, 
inform you of the situation in which we are at pre- 
sent placed, and of which we were not aware when 
we sent to you Joseph Gruber. The matter stands 
thus: On the 12th of March, the district-captain 
came to Zilierthal, and summoned us all, the first 

* Quarterly Review, vol. Ixiv. p. 131. 



THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 59 

on the 13th and the last on the 17th of March, to 
appear before him, and we did so with all due obe- 
dience. Thereupon he stood up, and said that to- 
day he appeared not as district-captain, but as the 
Emperor himself, to declare to us the Imperial de- 
cision of January 11, 1837, as to the following 
points : — 

" 1st. That we must return to the Roman Ca- 
tholic Church, or leave our fatherland; that he 
will not tolerate any Protestant community in the 
Tyrol. 

" 2d. That we might have the choice either to 
be translocated into Austrian provinces, where there 
are Protestant congregations, or to emigrate into 
foreign parts. 

" 3d. That we must declare within fourteen days 
which we prefer. 

" 4th. That from the date of our declaration, a 
term of four months should be granted us to prepare 
for translocation or emigration. 

" 5th. If in four months ye are not ready for either 
one or the other, your freedom of choice will be at 
an end, the official authorities will summon you to 
move, and the Emperor will locate you where he 
pleases. 

" Thereupon we requested passports, that we 
might look about for some place to go to : to which 
the answer was, — ' When you have made your de- 
claration you shall have passports, but not before.' 
We then considered from all that we knew of old, 
and that we had just heard, that our brethren in 



60 THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 

the faith suffer oppression in Austria. We thought 
also of the 30,000 Saltzburgers, who, for religion s 
sake, were obliged to tread the same path, and how 
the King .of Prussia graciously received them. . We 
have heard that the present King, too is a good and 
a pious King, and a friend to the Protestant Church ; 
and so, excepting eight persons who go into Austria, 
we ventured, in dependence upon God and the good 
King, to declare for foreign parts. Many now de- 
clared, of whom we knew nothing before : the num- 
ber of those who have declared for emigration is be- 
tween 400 and 500 souls, and we intended, as soon 
as we could get a passport, to send one of the num- 
ber to Prussia to pray and secure a gracious recep- 
tion for all. But now they refuse the passport, and 
we do not know what is to be the end of it. 

" Now we remember the 5th point, which says, 
c If you are not ready within this term, the Emperor 
will locate you, 5 and think that they delay with the 
passport that the time may pass away, and so the 
last state be worse than the first. We therefore pray 
you one and all, most worthy friends, to intercede 
for us with the King, and to inform him of our con- 
dition ; and as soon as one of us can get a passport, 
he shall go himself to Prussia, and we will look for 
you to give us information : but, should it happen 
that they will not give us a passport to Prussia, in- 
form the bearer whether he could not enter Prussia 
with his labourer's passport : he will return home 
at Whitsuntide. If it be possible for this man with 
his labourer's passport to get into Bavaria and Prus- 



THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 61 

sia, we should wish to send him. If we only knew 
that the King of Prussia would receive us, we 
would serve him faithfully and uprightly, as we 
have hitherto served the Emperor, who now perse- 
cutes us and drives us from our fatherland. 

" We greet you one and all, and pray for all things 
possible. 

"John Fleidl." 

In Munich especially, the state of things was 
pretty accurately understood. Zillerdalers who 
trafficked with precious stones, and such like articles, 
were in the constant habit of going to and from that 
city. They were treated by several of their breth- 
ren with that reception which Christian love is ever 
accustomed to grant to the needy and oppressed. 
Yet were there no attempts at proselytizing ; for the 
new-comers were already acquainted with the Gos- 
pel, and rejoiced in the opportunity of uniting with 
Protestants in the public worship of God, the holy 
sacraments, &c. In like manner the Zillerdalers 
received visits of sympathy from their fellow-believers 
in Bavaria and other places.* The Austrian policy 
permitted this, and, even when it might have ground 

* Unfortunately, freebooters and other worthless characters, 
under the assumed name of Protestants, also paid them visits. 
One of these, pretending to have come from Russia in the 
spring of 1835, made known to Heim his pecuniary embar- 
rassments. The latter offered him the greatest part of his 
ready money ; but as this was asserted not to be sufficient. 



62 THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 

for interference, it placed no difficulties in the way.* 
Now, after the decision already mentioned had been 
made known to these Ziilerdalers, and they had 
been joined by a hundred and twenty-two other in- 
habitants of the valley, they appointed John Fleidl 
their deputy, who, on behalf of the Protestants, 
should look around for help, and seek a reception 
in a foreign country. As the granting of his pass- 
port was delayed for some months, so that nearly 
half of the allotted time had passed away, they obtain- 
ed, upon petition, a prolongation of their sojourn, 
until the 11th of September. At the end of May, 
Fleidl appeared in Berlin, and delivered to the King 
the following address, drawn up chiefly by him- 
self f:— 

Heim borrowed of his brother-in-law. In this way he was 
beguiled of twelve crowns, with the promise that they should 
be returned by the next St. James' day. A similar case oc- 
curred again in the following year. 

* The ordinance mentioned by Voelter, that "not only trav- 
ellers who remained over night, but such as only stopped 
an hour, should enter their names in the strangers' book." 
was not in existence till after the year 1836. 

t " The good King of Prussia had, however, heard already 
the tidings of this oppression in Austria ; and another good 
King, our own late Sovereign, had heard also the tale of cru- 
elty and injustice. To the eternal honour of William IV. 
be it recorded, that he was the first who moved in the mat- 
ter. Again and again, in February and March, of 1837, he 
called upon the King of Prussia to interfere. They had 
both been parties to the Act of Confederation — they had both 
guaranteed its observance : they could not see its provisions 
trampled under foot, to the oppression and ruin of the Protest- 



THE EXILES OF ZTLLERTHAL. 63 

"-To the most Illustrious, most mighty King", 
" Most Gracious King- and Lord, 

" In my own name, and in the name of my com- 
panions in the faith, whose number amounts to from 
430 to 440, I venture a cry of distress on the mag- 
nanimity and grace of your Majesty, as the august 
defender of the pure Gospel. With my whole soul 
I had desired to lay this prayer personally and 
orally before your Majesty, yet I am content, if per- 
mitted, to do so only in writing. After more than 

ants of the Tyrol, without sacrificing every principle of self- 
respect, humanity, veracity, honour, and religion. The King 
of England and Hanover found no want of sympathy on the 
part of his Prussian brother, a worthy descendant of those 
sovereigns who opened their arms to receive the victims of Po- 
pery flying from France, from Saltzburg, and Bohemia. He 
was as determined as King William, but desired to act as gently 
as possible to the Emperor of Austria ; and therefore, instead of 
adopting the form of diplomatic reclamation, which must have 
been attended with a public exposure of political delinquency 
and breach of faith, he quietly commissioned his chaplain, 
Dr. Strauss, who was going to Vienna, to intercede with 
Prince Metternich, that, to such families as preferred emigration 
into Prussia, permission and time for preparation might be grant- 
ed, as he was willing to receive them all. A revocation or alter- 
ation of the decree of banishment was not asked for — for this 
reason amongst others, that a longer stay in the Tyrol under 
such circumstances could not have been desirable to the Pro- 
testants themselves. In fact, immediately after the depart- 
ure of the King's chaplain from Berlin, on the 23d of May, 
1837, the Zillerdalian deputy to the King of Prussia arrived 
to solicit a quiet habitation for the victims of intolerance ; this 
was the already mentioned John Fleidl."— Quarterly Review, 
vol. lxiv, pp. 132, 133. 



64 THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 

a hundred years, another act of persecution and 
banishment has been repeated in our fatherland. 
Not for any crimes or misdemeanours on our part, 
but on account of our religion, we are compelled to 
leave our native soil, as the annexed certificate from 
the Landgericht of Zell, dated 1 1th of this month, 
will show. It is true that we have the choice be- 
tween a translocation into another Austrian pro- 
vince and an entire emigration ; but we prefer the 
latter, in order to spare ourselves and children all 
further animosities. Already once, Prussia gave to 
our persecuted forefathers a secure asylum. We, 
too, have placed all our trust in God and the good 
King of Prussia. We shall find help, and not be 
ashamed. We therefore most humbly beseech your 
Majesty for a favourable reception into your royal 
dominions, and for a gracious assistance on our set- 
tlement. We pray your Majesty to receive us pa- 
ternally, that so w r e may live according to our 
faith. Our belief is grounded entirely on the doc- 
trine of Holy Scripture and the Augsburg Confes- 
sion ; we have heard both with diligence, and well 
know the difference between the Word of God and 
man's additions. From this faith we neither can 
nor will ever deviate; for its sake we leave house 
and home, and also our fatherland. May your 
Majesty graciously permit us to remain together in 
one community ; that will increase our mutual help, 
our mutual comfort. May your Majesty graciously 
place us in a region whose circumstances have some 
resemblance to our own Alpine land ; wherein 



THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL, 65 

agriculture, and the rearing of cattle, have formed 
our occupations. About two-thirds of us have pro- 
perty ; a third support themselves by day-labour ; 
only eighteen are tradespeople, of whom thirteen 
are weavers. 

" May it please your Majesty to give us a faithful 
pastor, and a zealous schoolmaster, though at first 
we shall probably not be in a condition to afford 
much for their support. The journey will be very 
expensive, and we do not yet know what we shall 
be able to bring to our new home ; and we have 
long been deprived of the consolations of religion 
and school instruction. Should any want show it- 
self among us, especally among the poor, to whom 
the more opulent may not be able to give sufficient 
assistance, as they will be obliged to begin life anew, 
so may your Majesty be a father to us all. But 
especially will your Majesty graciously intercede 
for us, that the prescribed term of four months, 
from the 11th of May to the 11th of September, 
maybe prolonged till the next spring? The sale 
of our farms, which already has begun, but which 
cannot, in so short a time, be well ended without 
disadvantage ; the setting in of winter ; the helpless- 
ness of the old people and children, are considera- 
tions which make such a prolongation in the high- 
est degree desirable. May God reward your 
Majesty for all the kindness which your Majesty 
may show to us. Faithful, honest, and thankful, 
will we remain in Prussia, and will not lay aside 
the good qualities of our Tyrolese nature. We 



66 THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 

shall only increase the number of your Majesty's 
brave subjects, and stand in history as a lasting 
monument, that misfortune, when it dwells near 
compassion, ceases to be misfortune ; and that the 
Gospel, when obliged to fly from the Papacy, ever 
finds protection from the magnanimous King of 
Prussia. 

"The Tyrolese of Zillerthal. 

" By their spokesman, 
John Fleidl, of Zillerthal. 
" Berlin, 21th of May, 1837." 

The petitioner was graciously received in the 
highest quarters, and his suit was answered to the 
entire satisfaction both of the deputy and his constit- 
uents. The King declared himself ready to accede 
to the request in its full extent; which he, in his 
own name and in that of his associates, had presented, 
with the knowledge and consent of his country's 
government. 

At the same time that Fleidl was gone to Berlin, 
the government had repeatedly received authentic 
information respecting the affairs of the Zillerdalers. 
Dr. Strauss,* the president of the consistory, was, in 
consequence, sent to Vienna, in order to negotiate the 
particulars, and to request for them a prolongation of 
the term for their emigration ; in which application 

* Carefully to be distinguished from D. F. Strauss, author 
of the too celebrated neological work entitled " The life of 
Jesus Christ." 



THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAI,. 67 

he was successful. The Austrian government ac- 
ceded, with ail readiness, to the proposals of the 
Prussian, showing a disposition to avoid everything 
that might give to the affair the odious colour of 
a religious persecution. Dr. Strauss met deputies 
from Zillerthal at Kreuth. There he ascertained 
that their faith was in strict accordance with the 
principles of Scripture and the Church, and that they 
were desirous to unite themselves as well to the Pro- 
testant Church as to all the institutions therewith con- 
nected. Subsequently, the privy-councillor Jacobi 
was commissioned to acquaint them with the civil in- 
stitutions of the state, that so no circumstance, as that 
of the general military duty, might come upon them 
unawares. 

The news of these transactions awakened great 
joy among the Protestants. They immediately set 
about preparing for emigration, by building wagons 
for their journey, disposing of their houses, estates, 
&c. The majority of those who had farms, and 
other property, soon found good and profitable pur- 
chasers. The others, also, who possessed only houses 
and cattle, were in no embarrassment, as all kinds 
of saleable commodities find in the valley a ready 
purchase.* The officials were not negligent in 

* That an assurance upon oath was required of the purchas- 
ers, " that they would never more betake themselves to the 
Bible," is a mistake, and originated probably from the circum- 
stance that married persons, children, and members of families 
who remained behind, were compelled to swear that " they 
would never know any more of those who were taking 



68 THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 

laying before them the hypothecary book, in order 
that the emigrants might have security upon the 
property ofthe buyers. But the Protestants declared 
that they were not disposed to make sales of that 
kind ; that indeed, for them, their countrymen were 
of themselves sufficient security. It was in vain that 
Schlechter, their Landrichter, explained to them the 
advantages of this right ; they remained by their 
declaration. Neither did the government require of 
them the emigration tax, but furnished the poorest 
among them with the necessary means for their 
journey. 

their departure." This custom is indeed nothing new ; it oc- 
curred, with more oppressive conditions, in the time of Count 
Firmian. 



CHAPTER V. 

The emigration from Ziilerthal — Preparations for departure- 
Disposition and behaviour of those who remained in the 
valley — March of the Exiles through the country above the 
town of Ems— Their reception by the Protestants in Rut- 
zenmoos and Efferding — Parting scenes in Finkenberg — 
Opinions of the Catholics concerning the Exiles-^-Their 
performance of divine worship on the mountains — Meeting 
of the emigrants with a priest — Their reception by the Pro- 
testants at Thenning and Gallkeukirchen, and scornful 
treatment at Iglau. 

Fourteen days earlier than the expiration of 
the set term, they began their departure. Their 
parting from those whom they left in the valley 
must have been so much the more bitter, as even 
many who had hitherto been their enemies, moved 
with sympathy, now declared that "they never 
thought their opposition would have led to such a 
sad result ; that they only intended to effect a change 
in their resolution." Others also, of a more indif- 
ferent character, assumed towards them a milder 
tone, especially since they had taken the pains to 
acquaint themselves more precisely with the facts. 



70 THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 

Urgent were the entreaties that " they yet would re- 
main in the valley, lest otherwise they should cause 
a scandal to the people abroad ; what would be said 
in the empire about the Tyrolese?" It was proba- 
bably from similar feelings that some were induced 
to promise their relations and acquaintance worldly 
advantages, if they would stay in the valley and re- 
main by the Church. The family of L , with 

seven children, had packed up their scanty effects 
upon a small cart, which, in the evening, was stand- 
ing before the door, ready to depart the next morn* 
ing. At this moment a female relative came and 
offered the husband the freehold of a rich farm, if he 
would consent to adhere to the Church. " I do not 
sell my religion," he calmly replied. Some priests 
also performed their part, for the purpose of direct- 
ing attention and sympathy to the Exiles: but they 
did it in their own way. On the borders of the val- 
lay of Kiitzen, one chose for the subject of his dis- 
course " the judgment of God upon the Lutherans ;" 
in which he alledged, " It is too bad that the people 
should be allowed to take so much money with them 
as two hundred thousand imperial florins ; # however, 
they will need the greater part on their journey, and 
the remainder will soon be gone. But my hearers," 

* " The fact is, that they brought into Prussia 50,000 reichs- 
dollars, and about as much more remained due to them in 
their native valley. This sermon, however, shows that the 
impression on their Romanist neighbours was not, that wart 
had compelled them to emigrate." — Quarterly Review, vol. 
Ixiv. p. 136. 



THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL 71 

he continued, Ci Prussia is a poor country ; the means 
of life are all dear there; even mouse-flesh is sold 
for money, &c." Notwithstanding, the Exiles ex- 
perienced much kindness on their way. In Maier- 
hof many came forward to give them a friendly fare- 
well, and to express their sorrow " that matters had 
come to such a pass." Even in Catholic Fugen, 
females stood under their houses weeping at their 
departure, and presented unasked, refreshments to 
the women and children. 

According to the wish of the Austrian Govern- 
ment, they took their way through the Imperial 
States, Saltzburg, the Archduchy, Moravia, and 
Bohemia ; and in small divisions. The first, consist- 
ing of one hundred and fifty souls, passed, on the 7th 
of September, through Linz. Some of the more 
advanced, availed themselves of the opportunity to 
visit a Protestant weekly service at Wels. No 
sooner had the congregation at Riitzenmoos heard 
that a second division was to follow, than they sent 
deputies on the high road as far as Boeklabrug to 
meet the Emigrants, and to invite them to take up 
their quarters with them for the night, and to attend 
divine service on the 8th of September, the festival of 
the Nativity of the Virgin. Here many, for the 
first time entered a Protestant church. Pastor 
Trautberger preached on the twenty-third Psalm, 
commencing his discourse with the words, " This 
day is salvation come to my house." Immediately 
after the commissary of the march directed them to 
proceed forward over Maria-Scferten. This train 



72 THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 

was more considerable than the first, consisting of 
two hundred persons. Every two or three families 
had, in common, a wagon drawn by horses. Many 
of the poorer dragged along a small two-wheeled 
cart, carrying their goods and children. In this 
manner Fleidl conveyed his mother and four little 
children. On the Saturday they arrived in Wels 
and in Scharten, the seat of the Protestant superin- 
tendent ; where the inhabitants opened their houses to 
them, and where also, for the first time, they met 
with unkindness from the adverse party. Even a 
priest suffered himself to do them this wrong. After 
accosting the Zillerdalers with a certain show of 
kindness, he proceeded to harsh words, and concluded: 
" Now you are going to the place you belong to, 
even the desolate Riesengebirg ; few of you, how- 
ever, will arrive there, most will perish on the way 
through Bohemia." " That does not trouble us," 
replied an artisan ; " if we live, we live to the Lord, 
and if we die, we die to the Lord." On Sunday, 
the 10th of September, they distributed themselves in 
the chapels (Bethauser) at Scharten, Wallen, and 
EfFerding ; but the greater number remained at Ef- 
ferding. 

There the congregation devoted the front seats 
around the altar to the strangers. The service began 
with the hymn, 

" Christ says, Come, follow me," &c. 

After this, Pastor Kotschy commenced his dis- 
course with those lines of Terstegen's ; — 



THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 73 

c< Forget not God's free grace and love, 
Nor from Him e'er depart ; 
While many thousands harden 'd prove, 
His mercy won thy heart." 

He then acquainted the congregation with the 
fortunes of the Zillerdalers, and strikingly reminded 
them of the banishment, a century before, of the 
Saltzburgers, who then sang, 

"A wandering exile here I roam, 
No other name is mine ; 
For God's truth driv'n from land and home : 
Yet I will not repine, 
Since Thou, my Saviour, didst for me 
The path of grief not shun ; 
So that I may but follow Thee, 
Let all Thy will be done."* 

The sermon was founded especially on the epistle 
for the day, Ephesians iii. 13, &c. After which 
the congregation sang the hymn, commencing 

" Glory and praise to God most High." 

* As the original is in the Tyrolese dialect, which diners 
from the High German, I thought it would be an interesting 
srv^men to some readers. 

" I bin a armer Exulant 
A so thue i mi schreiba, 
Ma thuet mi aus em Vat er land 
Um Gottes Wortxvertreiba, 
Dess weiss i wohl Herr Jesu Christ 
Es ist dir au so ganga, 
Itzt will i dein Nachfolger sin 
Herr, machs nach dein verlanga."— TV. 



74 THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 

This ended, there followed a baptism, then a con- 
fession, and the holy eucharist. As it was ail new 
to the Tyrolese, they remained silent spectators in 
the church. 

At noon they were hospitably entertained by the 
members of the congregation. Many now, lifting 
up their hearts and voices, said, " God be thanked, 
it has happened quite otherwise than was foretold 
us. It was said, ' If indeed you reach Hausriick, 
no one will regard you as fellow-believers. They 
will sweep you out as with a besom, and, least of 
all, will permit you to enter their chapels.' " 

In the afternoon, they attended the catechising of 
the children, which that day was held on the 41st 
chapter of the book of Genesis. To this the pastor 
added, with reference to the case of the Emigrants, a 
discourse on the 11th verse of the 8th chapter of the 
Prophecy of Amos. At the conclusion, he directed 
his address especially to them, admonished them to 
be faithful, and, commending them to the divine pro- 
tection, imparted to them the blessing. Afterwards, 
several of them visited the clergyman at his own 
house, conversed with him on several pasages of 
Scripture, and expressed their thankfulness at the 
wonderful leadings of God's providence. Especially 
joyful were a blind old man of eighty-three years, 
and a still more aged widow, for having lived to at- 
tain the privilege of worshipping their Lord in a 
Protestant church, and hearing his word without 
distraction. The Protestant congregations also af- 



THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL, 75 

forded the travellers considerable assistance in all 
things necessary for their journey. 

On the same day a third division, consisting- of 
sixty persons, arrived from the Lower Innthal, on 
the high road to Reichenhall. With several of these 
the fore-mentioned clergymen from Franconia had 
been already acquainted in the valley. " I found in 

Finkenberg," he writes, " Q,- , and his family 

busily occupied in preparing for their emigration. 
A deeply interesting picture ! The man with his 
brothers was standing in the entrance, filling baskets 
for the journey. The grey-headed father was within 
the house, surveying with a keen eye every corner 
of the place still so dear to him, lest any thing should 
be forgotten. The wife, with an infant eight days 
old at her breast, was, with Christian resignation, 
sitting by a cradle wherein a sick boy was lying. 
At the door stood the sister in tears, lamenting the 
separation from her kindred, whom she would gladly 
have accompanied, had she not been held back by 
her love to the children of her rigidly Catholic 
husband. 

" They invited me to their noonday meal, the 
last they were to take of in the paternal home. At 
table, the father of the family — of whom I may not 
think it evil that he did not bear this trial with the 
patience of his Lord — confessed that 'he felt the 
flesh still to struggle against the spirit ; but,' he 
added, ' I hope, by God's help, it will soon be over- 
come.' Among other questions, I asked him if he 
was going to take his religious books with him$ as 



76 THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 

the Bible, Schaitberger's Epistle, &c, or whether 
he had sold them. He replied, smiling, c I do not 
sell the Word. of God, that I have bestowed upon 
people by whom it will be duly valued, as others 
also have done, because many have earnestly be- 
sought us to leave them some of our little books. 
Besides, the good king will not fail to give us others 
when we arrive in Prussia.' The next day I pro- 
ceeded on the Saltzburg road as far as Rattenberg. 
Here, among the inhabitants, I met with various — 
some of them strange — opinions concerning the 
Zillerdalers. One man insisted, that the people 
were desirous of becoming Jews; on my asking 
why, he replied, ' because they do not make the sign 
of the cross in their prayers, which the Jews also 
refuse to do.' The hostess of the brewery at 
Wiesgrund thus expressed her opinion : ' I should 
only like to know what really is the matter with 
these poor mad people. I know them to be honest 
and industrious ; they have also wished to give my 
husband some little books, but as he cannot read, he 
is not able to make any use for them. It is true 
they lead a temperate and sober life, only they are 
not right in their religion, for they do not believe in 
the mother of God ; and yet they are stricter than 
most of us in their honour of the Lord.' An ap- 
prentice asserted that they were deserving of all 
praise, only their inclination to Protestantism was 
bad. In Rattenberg the conversation was entirely 
devoted to this affair. As one was here relating the 
hardships of the journey, of the children, and of the 



THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL, 77 

country to which they were going, another remark- 
ed, ' It is much better to remain in the religion in 
which one has been brought up.' Another person 
from Achenthal said, ' The novices ! they wish to 
be wiser than the Church, and only seek to make 
themselves conspicuous.' To which a third added, 
1 The matter has also its other side ; the people have 
heard something which they do not understand ; 
they are too early with it yet.' Very interesting 
was the expression of a traveller from Pustherthal, 
who, as it seemed, was not unacquainted with the 
Word of God. < In my country, 7 said he, ' many 
think just as these wanderers do ; but it is best for a 
man to remain quiet' After passing the village of 
St. John, I accompanied them further on the road. 
The clear tones of the bells from the mountains 
were summoning the dwellers in the valley to de- 
votion. In festal dress, the old and young were 
hastening by us to the neighbouring churches. It 
was the Lord's Day, and the Emigrants felt much 
anxiety that they, by their journeying, should dis- 
turb the Sunday's rest, and that themselves could 
not enjoy the happiness of hearing the Word of 
God. I endeavoured to calm their apprehensions 
as to the first point, and expressed my readiness to 
do my part for the general edification. At a green 
spot, in the wild mountain pass over the immense 
snow-crowned glaciers, they all descended from the 
wagons, and encamped around. I stepped into 
their midst, and discoursed to them, choosing for 
the subject the words in Matthew, v. 10 — 12. At 



78 THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL, 

the conclusion, they sang a choral, which rever- 
berated with a magnificent echo from the surround- 
ing valleys. Some hours later we arrived at 
Waidring, and the pass of Strub. It was just at 
the time when, the mass being ended, the people 
were returning to their homes. The sight of the 
procession caused them almost all to halt, and, 
either with sympathy or curiosity, to direct their 
eyes upon the people. Soon, however, the con- 
struction of the travelling wagons and the like, 
alone attracted their attention : especially as a priest 
joined himself to the bystanders, and charmed all 
with the displays of his technial knowledge. He 
also spoke freely concerning the l Inclinants,' con- 
fidently maintaining that ' these people, in order to 
procure a more favourable reception in Prussia, had 
told lies to its ruler, professing to believe in the 
Augsburg Confession, of which, all the while, they 
knew but little, and understood still less.' As I 
hereupon called him to account, and demanded of 
him proof for these assertions, he turned away, and 
poured forth a series of reproaches against a noble- 
man, who, in this district, had lately separated from 
the Catholic Churh. On our way, a countryman 
came up with us. He had remarked nothing of the 
sermon, except that it had stated that the Lutherans 
were really heathens, and deniers of the Godhead. 
I gave him Schubert's excellent little work, c The 
History of the Lutheran Saltzburgers ;' which he 
received with joy, promising me, that one of his 
children should read it to him in the afternoon. 



THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 79 

il At noon, we reached the valley watered by the 
Salach, and enclosed by the bare chalk mountains ; 
then we re-ascended the heights towards the Kniepass. 
and arrived at the former village of Unken, cele- 
brated as the scene of a murderous battle in the year 

1809. On the road, my companion Q, related 

to me several particulars of his early life in the val- 
ley. Among other incidents the following : c On 
one occasion my pastor blamed me very harshly for 
presuming to read the Bible, whereas, as he said, it 
belongs only to God's servants, the priests. He did 
not suffer me to appeal to the Word, but continued 
to represent this as our chief crime. At length I 
ventured to say, l Reverend pastor, I have read the 
Scripture, and that often, yet have I not been able to 
find that it anywhere is said to be only for the^cleri- 
cal order. There is indeed the Epistle of St Paul 
to the Church at Rome, at Corinth, &c. The 
Church at Rome certainly consisted then of the peo- 
ple in general 5 and if, at that period, they were per- 
mitted to read the Scripture, they must be equally so 
at the present day.' 

" Among the Emigrants were two sisters who had 
joined one of their relatives, leaving the rest of the 
family at home with their father, who was sick. 
On my asking them whether they thought it right 
so to forsake their invalid father for ever, they re- 
plied, i Yes, for had he been w r ell he would have 
come with us, and at parting, he gave us his blessing 
for the journey.' " 

On the thirteenth of the same month, this third 



80 THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 

division arrived at Wels, and attended a lecture on 
the twenty-seventh Psalm, by the Protestant clergy 
man of that place. Pursuing their journey, they 
came to Thenning. There the Lutheran superin- 
tendent received them with especial kindness, and 
induced them to remain over the Sunday. In Linz 
they found a hospitable reception, and accommodation 
gratis at the Golden Cross. In Gallneu-kirchen, 
where formerly the beloved Boos laboured, the pa- 
rish priest forbade his flock to have anything to do 
with the people. Nevertheless, the commissary of 
the district opened to them his stables, and his ex- 
ample was followed by several others. Many now 
were the marks of sympathy shown to them, until 
they reached the borders of the Archduchy. These 
were, however, strikingly diminished on their ar- 
rival in Moravia. Here, in several places, difficul- 
ties arose from the difference of dialect, which the 
inhabitants show 7 ed no disposition to obviate, but ra- 
ther a decided aversion to the Exiles. The first 
train especially, probably in consequence of their 
strange and unexpected appearance, had to endure 
many hardships. 

In the hill town of Iglau, their leaders, notwith- 
standing the badness of the weather, and their earn- 
est entreaties, could obtain no quarter. On some of 
them going into an inn to prepare some food for the 
children, who were perishing with cold and hunger, 
the fire was extinguished, and they were, with 
threatenings of the lash, driven out of the town.' 
Several were refused the necessaries for the journey, 



THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 81 

though they offered to purchase them with money. 
More than once, the weary were directed to sheds 
and hog-sties, when there was no want of better accom- 
modation ; and sometimes they were even obliged to 
encamp, amid storm and rain, in the open air. It is 
true that such treatment was contrary to the will of 
the supreme authorities, nor was it repeated to those 
who came after. 

In the Bohemian towns of Teutschbrod, Czaslau, 
Kdnigingratz, and Trautenau, they experienced no 
unpleasantness of any kind. 



CHAPTER VI. 

Arrival and settlement of the Zillerdalers in Silesia — Entry into 
Michelsdorf — Day of rest there — Arrival in Schmiedeberg — 
Thanksgiving-day — Distribution of Bibles — Schools for the 
old and young among the Zillerdalers — Their reception 
into the national compact, and into the established Protest- 
ant church — They partake of the Holy Eucharist under 
both kinds — Provisional committee for the strangers — Bible 
instruction — The Zillerdalers celebrate the anniversary of 
the Reformation in Fischbach — They are visited by a Si- 
lesian at Schmiedeberg — Joy and sorrow in the congregation 
—Testimonials concerning the Emigrants — Concluding re- 
flections. 

At the mountain village of Michelsdorf, in the 
circle of Landshut, the exiles first trod their new fa- 
therland. They received their first welcome on the 
20th of September, 1837, from the Protestant pastor 
Bellman, who was followed by the greater part of 
his flock. The train consisted of about a hundred 
and twenty persons. At its head advanced the fa- 
thers and mothers, tall and well-proportioned figures, 
wearing the well-known Tyrolese hat, and carrying 
umbrellas ; otherwise habited in the simple costume 
of their country. Among all, it was easy to perceive 
that their dress had been newly provided for the jour- 



THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 83 

ney. Earnest and still the procession moved for- 
ward ; even the spectators, penetrated with sympathy, 
observed a deep silence: firm, tranquil resolution 
was expressed in the countenances of the men, hum- 
ble resignation in those of the women. These were 
followed by ten or twelve wagons carrying the aged 
and sick, women and children, as well as the most 
necessary articles of their moveable property. Then 
there came several small two-wheeled cars, drawn 
by their owners, containing their books, &c. 

About noon, on the twenty-third of September, 
the second train arrived, consisting of two hundred 
and eighteen persons, among whom was John Fleidl. 
They had traversed, in twenty-three days, about 
ninety German miles. As during the last few days 
there had been an incessant rain, the travellers here 
halted some hours, in order to recruit themselves for 
the mountain-pass, and the remaining six miles of 
their journey. The countenances of all indicated the 
greatest exhaustion, only the children were cheerful 
and joyous. Pastor Bellman stepped into the midst 
of the pilgrims, who, young and old, crowded round 
him with tears in their eyes, endeavouring to reach 
his hand and catch a glimpse of his countenance. 
Every eye was fixed upon him, glistening with emo- 
tions of joy and gratitude. One party that was en- 
camped near the church having procured it to be open- 
ed, some of them entered: in silence they ranged them- 
selves before the altar, when presently one of them per- 
ceived, and drew the attention of his companions to, 
a portrait of the king : with a general shout of the 



84 THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 

highest transport, they all rushed towards the pic- 
ture, contemplating it with eyes beaming with tears 
of joy. It was. indeed, the likeness of one who, by his 
royal favour, had caused their gladness at that 
happy moment. 

On the evening of Saturday, the 30th of Septem- 
ber, the third division arrived, with six wagons and 
sixty-five persons. As the following day was to be 
the harvest festival, they were invited here to par- 
take its rest. The overseers of the parish anxiously 
provided for their accommodation, and several of the 
Catholic householders also offered them a ready 
welcome. On the Sunday morning, they all appeared 
in the church, whither they were conducted by the 
clergy ; they likewise attended the afternoon service, 
and all the other holy exercises. At two o'clock 
the next morning, they passed through Hermsdorf 
where the Protestant inhabitants prepared for them 
breakfast, on their way to Schmiedeberg. 

A few days later, a fourth division followed, con- 
sisting of three families and other individuals, about 
thirty in number, who had not before been able to 
dispose of their farms and cattle, the whole followed 
by a throng of foot passengers. Pastor Bellman re- 
lates that in his conversations with the travellers, 
K they expressed their thankfulness to God, that, 
with the exception of some trifling ailments, they 
had all enjoyed perfect health ; and that, notwith- 
standing the great number of those who were aged 
and infirm, they had not. contrary to the predictions 
of some of their friends. lost a single individual on 



THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 85 

the journey. There were among them many fami- 
lies of whose members not one remained behind ; 
yet not a few in which parents from children, chil- 
dren from parents, and brothers and sisters, had been 
parted. Their separation must, indeed, have been 
in the highest degree painful, and gladly would they 
have remained in their beloved fatherland, had not 
their ardent desire to be able to serve the Lord, in 
the liberty of their own convictions, overborne all 
other considerations." 

The town of Schmiedeberg was appointed to the 
assembled emigrants as their first place of abode. 
As the first division arrived earlier than was ex- 
pected, and as it Was the season of the yearly fair, 
they were provided with a temporary homo in Upper 
Schmiedeberg. Here they, as w r eli as their follow- 
ers, met with the kindest reception from the inhabi- 
tants. On Sunday, the 24th of September, those 
who had first arrived, attended divine service in the 
Protestant Church. Pastor Sussenbach offered on 
their behalf an earnest prayer ; Pastor Neumann 
in his sermon admonished the congregation to re- 
ceive the Tyrolese with love as their Christian 
brethren, remarking on the powerful faith by which 
they must have been actuated to forsake house and 
home, their native country, friends and kindred, and 
all that man in this life holds most dear, in order to 
attain liberty of conscience and belief. 

On the 8th of October they all came to the church, 
to observe a day of public thanksgiving for their 
happy arrival. The Zillerdalers assembled in the 



86 THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 

great open Place before the church, at the doors of 
which the clergy stood to receive them. The hymn 
was sung — 

11 When Christ his Church defends, 
All hell may rage and riot. 
Nor mortal foes nor fiends 
Shall give her long disquiet ; 
He who at God's right hand doth sit 
Shall quell all foes beneath her feet," &c. 

The church-doors were now thrown open, and 
the clergy led in the people singing the hymn — 

" Up, Christians, ye who in Him trust, 
And let no threats affright en." 

To the exiles were allotted the seats on the right 
and left before the altar. Divine service commenced 
with the hymn— 

" In Thee, O God, I put my trust." 

Then followed an address from the altar ; and the 
whole was concluded by singing, 

11 Now thank God, one and all," &c. 

The church could hardly contain the crowds that 
streamed in from all directions ; while all manifested 
the most heartfelt interest and sympathy. 

In the same week, all the heads of families, as 
well as the unmarried, were summoned to the 



THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 87 

town-hall, where they were presented with Bibles, 
by Pastor Siege rt. With tears of joy and gratitude 
they received the gift Among these was one man 
the father of a family, who, though only forty years 
old, had long been grey from grief and anxiety, and 
had left his wife and children in the valley, as they 
still adhered to the Romish Church. 

The government at once made provision for the 
instruction both of the children and the adults. A 
schoolmaster from the Royal Seminary at Buntzlau 
was appointed for this purpose. Daily, from the 
hours of eight till twelve, above eighty Tyrolese 
children, between the ages of six and fifteen, are in- 
structed in the school. From two till five, ninety 
adults are taught reading, writing, arithmetic, sing- 
ing, and Bible history. From four o'clock till five, 
about twenty aged persons are taught the art of read- 
ing. " Cost what it may," they said, " we must 
learn to read the Bible." 

On the 13th of October, being the birthday of 
their noble benefactress the Princess Marianne of 
Prussia, the school was consecrated, and the school- 
master inducted ; after which, the president of the 
province, Dr. Von Merckel, addressed first the 
children, and then the adults, saluting them ail as 
the new subjects of the King. 

Unfortunately the schools could not be opened till 
towards the end of the month, as the Asiatic cholera 
had broken out in the town, which also carried off 
some of the new inhabitants. The clergy were con- 
stant in their attendance on the sufferers, many 



88 THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 

visiting them two or three times daily. In conse- 
quence of their intercourse on these and other oc- 
casions, both in private and in the sanctuary, there 
soon arose a closer intimacy between the clergy and 
the Tyrolese. By these means, the former became 
so well satisfied of the people's soundness and steadi- 
ness in the principles of the Protestant faith, that on 
the 12th of November they were, in the presence of 
Prince William and his consort, admitted into the 
national church. After Fleidl had, in behalf of all, 
read their confession of faith, the others standing 
around the altar, they, for the first time, partook of 
the eucharist under both kinds, Prince William 
preceding the men, and the Princess the women, to 
that holy sacrament. A number of young people 
were also admitted, who had been previously pre- 
pared by the clergy. 

Many instances might now be noted of the kind- 
ness shown to them by the inhabitants of Schmiede- 
berg. A merchant undertook to count and sort all 
their money, previous to its being deposited in the 
royal bank at Breslau. Several matrons instructed 
the young females in domestic employments, &c. 

The neighbourhood also around Schmiedeberg 
manifested no want of sympathy to the Zillerdalers. 
Under the auspices of the Dowager Countess von 
Reden, at Buchwald, a provisional committee was 
formed on their behalf. The Countess herself su- 
perintended their interests with especial zeal, and 
showed to them the kindness of a mother; indeed, 



THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 89 

by this name they were accustomed to designate 
that pious lady. 

The Tyrolese frequently attended a weekly lec- 
ture by pastor Haupt of this place, who expounded, 
with especial reference to them, the Epistle to the 
Romans : also other neighbouring clergy held with 
them hours of public devotion. 

Pastor Siegert of Fischbach having been charged 
with the spiritual necessities of the new-comers, pro- 
ceeded at once with all due fidelity to his task, hold- 
ing meetings with adults in the evenings, three 
times a week, at which not only the emigrants, but 
also many of the inhabitants, resorted with regular 
attendance. Here the fundamental doctrines of 
Christianity, with their mutual connection and de- 
pendendence, as well as the principal Protestant 
Confessions, were clearly and familiarly exhibited 
without any admixture of polemics. 

The attention, sympathy, and desire for instruc- 
tion manifested by all were in the highest degree 
encouraging. On the 29th of October, the custo- 
mary festival to commemorate the Reformation was 
held in the church at Fischbach, to which the Zil- 
lerdalers came over from Schmiedeberg. Here 
they found a numerous congregation ; among those 
present was the family of Prince William, brother 
of the King. On this occasion, Pastor Siegert se- 
lected for his lecture that part of the history of the 
Reformation which especially related to the Saltz- 
burg Exiles. 

Four men of known experience and understand- 



90 THE EXILES OF ZXJ LBRTHAL. 

ing were chosen from their number to preside over 
the little community. These were Heim, Brucker, 
Stock, and Fleidl, who watched over the general 
welfare, and superintended the others' occupations, 
which consisted chiefly in the felling of timber. 
Although they were not so capable as the natives 
of employments requiring so much exertion, they 
yet, on the other hand, showed great fondness and 
endurance of continuous labour. 

The strangers also received several visits from 
their neighbours in Hirschberg. One of these 
thus expresses himself, under date September 30 : — 

" I have just returned from a visit to the Protest- 
ants of Zillerthal, and ardently wish that I could 
transfer to my paper somewhat of that warmth and 
freshness of impression which I derived from the 
reality, and which I cannot otherwise describe than 
as at once exciting both the deepest melancholy and 
the liveliest joy. Melancholy must the sight ever 
be of uncorrupt human nature violently torn from 
its maternal soil, where, with all life's fibres, it had 
been long deeply rooted, and suddenly transplant- 
ed into a foreign region. And though I scarcely 
think that these plain, unsophisticated men, so far re- 
moved from all sickly sentimentality, were conscious 
of this feeling, yet was it, as by a kind of instinct, 
sufficiently indicated in the somewhat dejected, almost 
anxious appearance of their otherwise energetic, 
trust-inspiring countenances. Nevertheless, the as- 
pect of these simple natures was most cheering and 
refreshing to the heart, as clearly manifesting that 



THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 9i 

in them there dwelt no fraud or guile. The occa- 
sion of my visit was the announcement of a religious 
festival as about to take place in the church at 
Schmiedeberg, on account of the Protestant Ziller- 
dalers. Several inhabitants of the neighbouring 
Hirschberg also took the same journey, among 
whom was the superintendent of the diocese. Im- 
mediately, however, on our first entering Schmiede- 
berg, we perceived that it could not be a church fes- 
tival that was approaching, as the good Zillerdalers 
were going about in any thing but their Sunday 
dress. At the same time, we observed that it was 
not with the picturesque, somewhat theatrically cos- 
tumed Tyrolese, whom one is accustomed to see 
travelling about the country, that we now had to do ; 
rather we were reminded, by their coarse brown 
smock-frocks and broad-brimmed black hats, of the 
Sclavonian pot-menders. # On the other hand, the 
powerful broad-shouldered figures of the men, as well 
as their honest, pious features, spoke much in their 
favour. At the very outset of our intercourse with 
them, we recognised the true-hearted, open charac- 
ter, the honest, simple mind, the child-like, confiding 
spirit of uncorrupt human nature. They related to 

* Literally, pot-binders. ( Topf binder.) These are itiner- 
ant mechanics from Sclavonia, who are remarkable for their 
unequalled skill and dexterity in binding hoops of wire around 
the earthen pots which are extensively used in Bohemia 
for culinary and other purposes, and which, of course, but 
for such precaution, would be very liable to be speedily 
broken « 



92 THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 

us their endurances on the journey, how many had 
been obliged to spend the night without shelter, how 
on several occasions they had been pointed at with 
the finger of scorn, and sometimes assailed with 
stones. Often the places where they sat, as if there- 
by they had been polluted, were washed before their 
eyes. However incredible such a thing may sound, 
yet so far were their honest minds from all fanci- 
ful exaggerations, that one cannot refuse credit to 
the statement. In all their declarations, they dis- 
played a straightforward, sound understanding, a 
pious trust in God, without any taint of cant or hy- 
pocrisy. That they were familiar with the Holy 
Scriptures has already sufficiently been made known; 
and it was ever near their hearts to possess a Bible 
of their own. On this occasion we inquired for the 
dwelling of John Fleidl, and some of those present 
immediately offered to conduct us to it. And here 
I cannot omit relating a little incident which may 
appear not devoid of interest. On the way, a beggar 
met us, and whilst I stood a moment talking with 
him, my Zillerdalian guide observed at a short dis- 
tance a pair of horse-shoes, but little the worse for 
wear, lying upon the ground. Scarcely had the 
beggar perceived this, than he took them out of his 
hand, and wished to keep them for himself. The 
Zillerdaler gave them to him, but remarked at the 
same time that they could not belong to him, and 
might be the property of one of his countrymen, 
whose horse was standing in the neighborhood : 
whereupon I took them from the beggar, and deliv- 



THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 93 

ered them again to the finder. As we stayed a long 
time with Fleidl, my conductor in the meanwhile 
had gone away; by-and-by he came up to me, say- 
ing, ' Now they are in the right place.' He had in 
the eantime been busying himself in finding out 
from what horse the shoes had fallen, and causing 
them to be replaced. I could mention many other 
striking instances of their strict conscientiousness, 
and regard to the rights of property, wmich were re- 
lated to us during our visit. The appearance of 
Fleidl is just as simple andunasuming as that of his 
countrymen. He is tali and powerful, as are most 
of the Zillerdalers. We found him in his coarse 
linen shirt-sleeves, busied with affairs of his commu- 
nity, and surrounded by several venerable old men, 
true sancti patres of the poet ; and altogether ths 
scene forcibly reminded one of 'the Judge' in 
Gothe's Herrmann and Dorothea. Fleidl enjoys 
great respect among his companions, which is en- 
tirely due to his integrity, as he is one of the poorer 
class. All besides that we heard in Schmiedeberg 
concerning the Zillerdalers spoke loudly in their 
favour. 

" A merchant there, who had entertained about 
forty in his spacious mansion, could not sufficiently 
extol their unaffected piety, probity, and trustworthi- 
ness. One of these was the man who had separated 
from his wife and eight children, as they would not 
accompany him, which circumstance caused him 
inconsolable grief throughout his journey. 

" Nine members of the congregation reached the 



94 THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL, 

land which they had so earnestly desired only to be 
soon called away to their everlasting home. Five 
were snatched away, a ter a few hours of painful 
suffering, by the above mentioned malady. They 
died with tranquil resignation and believing confi- 
dence, not without lively, heartfelt gratitude that 
they had attained that which they had so ardently 
longed for — the enjoyment of the holy Eucharist, 
and the certainty of finding a resting-place for their 
inanimate dust in a Protestant churchyard. Many, 
indeed, had emigrated solely that they might enjoy 
this blessing. Ignatius Hauser, a man aged sixty- 
six, and who had been three years crippled with 
paralysis, came with his will in his pocket ; and a 
matron, who had passed her eightieth year, had on 
the journey continually urged her children to make 
haste lest she should die before they reached the new 
fatherland. The desires of both were fulfilled ; a few 
days after their arrival, they joyfully raised their 
languishing heads w r ith the thanksgiving, c Lord, 
now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace.' The 
congregation was also increased by the birth of two 
children, one of whom was a daughter, that, an hour 
after the arrival of the first train, beheld at once the 
light of the world and its parents' new home, and 
under favourable circumstances, since as soon as 
they heard of the event, the noble family of Schulen- 
berg afforded the mother an immediate shelter in 
their hospitable mansion. The noble host himself 
stood sponsor to the child, which received the name 
of Frederica Wilhelmina. Several marriages also 



THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 95 

speedily followed. The account of these events 
was furnished by the oft-named John Fleidl." 

Let us now hear the testimony of an approved 
witness concerning the present condition of the Zil- 
lerdalers in Schmiedeberg.* 

" Earnestly desirous for the pure Word of God, 
they embraced with visible joy every opportunity 
of hearing its announcements, and are filled with 
gratitude for the happy turn which their affairs 
have taken, through the gracious mediation of our 
king. At the same time, they do not conceal the 
sorrow and pain they felt on parting from those 
whom they left in the valley : f However, 5 they 
said, * we parted from one another in peace. 5 And 
they rejoice over the victory which they then 
achieved, and only lament for those who, against 
their inward convictions, still held back. They 
speak without bitterness concerning the oppressions 
which they have endured, regarding them rather as 
the means necessary for the trial and purification of 
their faith. i It must needs all have so happened,' 
they said, ' in order to attain such a glorious end.' 
Very many of them possess a comprehensive, fun- 
damental acquaintance with Scripture, which they 
know well how to employ most effectually towards 
every one w-ho asks a reason for their belief; and - 
all maintain sound religious principles, without any 

* It must be borne in mind that Dr. Rheinwald's narrative 
was written before the Zillerdalers were located in Erdmanns- 
dorf, their destined home, while they were still sojourning in 
Schmiedeberg. 



96 THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 

partialities, eccentricities, or exaggerations. They 
are indeed healthy children of the vigorous times of 
the Reformation. 

v Besides the writings which have been already 
mentioned as having conduced to their awakening 
and confirmation, I found in the possession of one 
man l Stolz's New Testament,' and his c Anno- 
tations,' for which he had paid a high price in Zil- 
lerthal. I counselled him to lay aside this appara- 
tus until he should find that he did not need it. 
Unhappily, there had been no want of endeavours 
on the part of some to impress them with a special 
religious type, which, however, their sound under- 
standings enabled them immediately to detect : nor 
indeed was it, in general, so easy .to entangle those 
whose bias under ecclesiastical oppression had ne- 
cessarily been in a Protestant direction, and who 
had long struggled after liberty, in another yoke of 
bondage. 

u Others, again, have not failed to question 
whether the Zillerdalers, so simple-minded and 
conversant with the plain Word of God, could cor- 
dially unite with a good conscience to our national 
church, as they had been pre-occupied with Luther's 
writings and the Augsburg Confession. Not long 
ago, some Zillerdalers resorted with their horses, 
whose keep had become too burdensome, to a market 
at some distance, in order to sell them. Their way 
thither lay through a town, where their appearance 
excited great observation ; and some of the inhabi- 
tants, being desirous of imparting their own re- 



THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL, 97 

ligious peculiarities, showed them great kindness, 
and invited them to share their repast. i We con- 
sented,' (so one of them related it with inimitable 
naivete^) l for we could not well refuse the offer of 
a meal ; but we soon perceived, from their impetu- 
ous, quarrelsome discourse, that there was a sect 
here ; whereupon we kept silence, thanked them, 
and went on our way.' Such incidents most plain- 
ly intimate of what spirit they were the offspring. 
To the fathers of families, especially, it was matter 
of the greatest satisfaction that they could now send 
their children to a Protestant school. They lead 
among us a quiet, orderly life, displaying unaffected, 
harm ess good nature ; an earnest, tranquil, firm de- 
meanour, a clear understanding, which, even in 
matters to which they are unaccustomed, speedily 
finds the right way. The aged Heim does not con- 
ceal 'that there are some wayward sheep in the 
flock :' but of a marked character these are very 
few. They are very desirous of exchanging their 
present temporary condition for their place of final 
settlement. '• We are, they say, ' not accustomed to 
eat our bread without working for it.' In short we 
are firmly persuaded that when they shall have been 
placed in circumstances corresponding, as far as 
possible, to their former rural way of life, it will be 
more and more manifest that Prussia has no reason 
to repent of having received them into its mountains 
and valleys." 

The fulfilment of this wish is on the point of be- 
ing realized. According to certain intelligence, they 



98 THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 

are to remain very near the place of their present 
sojourn. 

Quite in harmony with the testimony just cited 
are other reports communicated from Silesia. 

K They avail themselves with zeal and fidelity, 
not only of the schools, but also of the public week 
and Sunday services, as well as the hours of evening 
instruction; and make a just and pious use of the 
Holy Scriptures, of which abundant copies are dif- 
fused among them. Hitherto, nothing has occurred 
to shake the good opinion with which the best 
members of the Protestant Church were first in- 
duced to regard their new brethren.' 7 

And anothei'j " It is very gratifying that the po- 
lemical aspect which the emigrants were natwrally 
obliged to assume towards the Romish Church has 
produced no disturbance. They unite, with all the 
freshness of their Protestant feeling, a benevolent 
mildness and placability towards that which so bit- 
terly opposed them, and occasioned them so much 
calamity. They are also free from all kinds of sec- 
tarianism. I believe that these (in the best sense) 
virtuous, open, and simple natures would of them- 
selves spurn away all attempts to lead them into 
such devious paths, which yet have not been want- 
ing." 

On the other hand, it is asserted in some reports 
issued from the city of Brixen, where, on account of 
its proximity to the scene, the facts might be truly 
ascertained: "Religion is with many, probably the 
greater number of Zillerdalers, only a secondary 



THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 99 

consideration. The prospect of a good reception in 
Prussia, the probable predilection of the king, the 
desire for intrigues and unrestrained marriages, an in- 
clination for greater liberty, which is especially dear 
to the Ziilerdaler, particularly the imaginary hon- 
our of firmly maintaining an opinion once expressed, 
the presumed disgrace, and therefore false shame, of 
retracting and failing in one's profession ; these are 
the motives which commonly induce persons to 
change their religion." 

To the honour of the Catholic Church, however, 
it must be observed, that not all its organs of opinion 
took this perverse and prejudiced view of the affairs 
of the Zillerdalers. We find in some, other princi- 
ples guiding their judgment on this matter. Thus, 
a journal,* edited by a body of Catholic clergy and 
laymen, requires of certain inhabitants of Herme- 
stan, who were going to Rome, "that they should 
call at Zillerthal, in order to ascertain with their own 
eyes whether their apology for the measures of the 
Austrian government against these poor dwellers 
upon the mountains, who now are no longer Roman 
Catholics, but desire a little church of their own, 
were just or not ; and whether the Toleration-Edicts 
of Joseph were not more suitable to our time than the 
limitation of the same suggested by the Crypt of 
Jesuits." 

Thus far the narrative by Dr. Rheinwald : it is 
only necessary to add the information of a high au- 

* "Allgemeine Kirchenzeitung fur Deutschland und 
Schweitz, Mai, 1837." 



100 THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 

thority, derived from unquestionable sources, that 
"during trie winter they were taken care of in 
Sehmiedeberg, and in summer they entered upon 
their new possessions in the domains of Erdmanns- 
dorf, where each obtained a house and farm suitable 
to his means and his former position in the Tyrol. 
The colony itself has received the name of their old 
home, Zillerthal. Reports have, we know, been 
circulated, that the exiles are discontented, and already 
wish to emigrate again ; but nothing could be more 
untrue. Those of the labouring class who are ac- 
customed to leave the Tyrol annually in search of 
employment continue their periodic migrations, and 
are readily furnished by the Prussian government 
with passports for the purpose. The great majority, 
whom no such necessity compels, remain station- 
ary ; — all are happy, and thankful for the kindness 
with which they have been received, and the lib- 
erty of conscience which they enjoy. 

" Such is the simple narrative of this Austrian op- 
pression, and of the happy deliverance of its victims. 
Prudence forbade the fires and massacres, the drag- 
onades and confiscations of former centuries ; but 
the denial of justice, the withholding of the religious 
liberty guaranteed by the law, the refusal of Chris- 
tian burial, and the most barbarous and unnatural 
prohibition to enter into the marriage state, concluded 
at last by an expulsion from house and home, can 
be designated by no milder term than that of perse- 
cution. When Protestants speak of the flames of 
Smithfield, or the horrors of St. Bartholomew's night. 



THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL 101 

they are told that these things are not to be imputed 
to the religion of Rome, but to the barbarism of the 
age. They then point to the unprincipled perfidy 
which suggested, and the wanton cruelty which ac- 
companied, the revocation of the Edict of Nantes; 
but again the times are made to bear the blame. 
The Saltzburg persecution, conducted by a Romish 
archbishop, rises up in the Protestant mind as proof 
that in the eighteenth century the practice of Popery- 
was still the same ; but it is once more replied, that 
the true principles of civilization and toleration were 
not understood till within the last forty years. The 
history of the Zillerdale Exiles comes to testify that 
even in the present age of supposed illumination, the 
system of Rome remains unchanged — as intolerant, 
as tyrannical, as faithless, as it was in the darkest of 
the ages that have passed away. 

' ; Who that knows anything of the kind and amia- 
ble dispositions of the late or the present Emperor of 
Austria would believe that any power on earth could 
have transformed them into the relentless oppressors 
of their subjects, or induced them to a distinct prom- 
ise, and deliberately to violate the express articles of 
the most solemn treaties? It is beyond all doubt 
that no temporal power could have moved them to 
measures so repugnant to their nature and their hon- 
our ; but Popery has blinded them to the perception 
of right and wrong, and made them insensible even 
to shame. There can be neither doubt nor mistake 
about the matter. The Treaty of Westphalia, the 
Toleration-Edicts of Joseph II., and the Act of the 



102 THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 

Germanic Confederation, bound the Emperors of 
Austria to secure liberty of conscience to their sub- 
jects ; and by the persecution of the Zillerdalers these 
solemn international engagements have all been 
violated; a feet not very creditable to the house 
of Hapsburg, but momentously instructive to Pro- 
testant nations and churches. They may learn that 
all Popish professions of liberality, or concern 
for liberty of conscience, are hypocritical ; that if 
there be such a thing as religious liberty in the 
world, it is because God in his goodness has turned 
the scale of power and might in favour of Protest- 
antism ; and that if ever by our folly, or as a pun- 
ishment for our sins, the Papists should become the 
strongest, that moment Europe will cease to breathe 
the free air of Christian freedom. Wherever Po- 
pery now possesses the power, liberty of conscience 
is unknown. The Pope suffers it not in his own 
dominions. He has of late compelled the benevo- 
lent King of Sardinia to abrogate almost all the old 
privileges of the Waldenses. Bavaria returns to 
intolerance, and compels her Protestant soldiers to 
pay homage to the wafer. Austria contracts the 
little measure of freedom which her statutes had pro- 
vided, and forcibly drives Protestantism out of the 
Tyrol. Popery is still the same in her dispositions, 
her aim, and her means, and therefore Protestant 
nations must still entertain the same distrust, and ex- 
ercise the same vigilance, that they did two centuries 
ago. There can be no peace with Rome — nor any 
security for liberty of conscience — except in the con- 



THE EXILES OF ZILLERTHAL. 103 

tinued existence of European Protestant ascendency. 
It is a sad fact, of which this history reminds us, 
namely, that neither sovereigns nor churchmen of the 
Roman school can be bound by treaties or oaths; 
that fear is the only motive, and force the only argu- 
ment, that can induce them to maintain a semblance 
of mercy and veracity. Thankful we may be that, 
by the fundamental law of the land, this system of 
cruelty and fraud is for ever excluded from the Brit- 
ish throne." — Quar. Rev. vol. lxiv. pp. 139 — 141. 



APPENDIX; 



CONTAINING 

EXTRACTS FROM SOME ORIGINAL LETTERS 

BY THE ZILLLERDALERS. 



1831.— e: We are astonished that the ' People's Friend ' has 
so belied us ; because we well know that not one among us 
has gone back. Instead of becoming fewer, our number has 
greatly increased. Now we see how they wish to overwhelm 
our simple minds with falsehoods of which we know nothing. 
But the Most High, who sees, as with a glance, through all 
the designs of men, yea, His providence, most beloved friend, 
has so ordered it, that you should set forth the truth for us ; 
God be thanked, and you also ; we fully recognise the kindness 
which you have manifested on our behalf. We all rejoiced 
when we received your assurance of all possible help — thanks 
be to you through Jesus Christ. We also hope that God will 
graciously grant to our cause a happy issue, that so we may be 
able to hear the sound doctrine of the Gospel, and be freed 
from those who only multiply darkness, who use the Word of 
God as a cloak for their own sinful, empty prattle; who, as 
Christ says, ' Make void the Word of God by their tradi- 
tions.' What communion has the living with the dead % 
We adore the Triune God whom they know not; for it is 
written, ' I will not give my glory unto another.' (Isaiah, 
xlviii. 11.) If, now, most beloved friend, the idol -priests, who 
think gain to be godliness, tell you anything, believe it not. 
They pervert the Word of God in their mouths, and speak 
vanities and lies, meditating untruth in their hearts. With 
their lips they show kindness to a man, while they secretly 
lie in wait for him. Therefore we again pray you for your 



APPExNDIX, 105 

support. Who appointed the ravens to bring Elijah food, 
but the all-providing God 1 Even He who led your hearts 
with such kindness towards us. Our number is now two 
hundred and thirty-six. When 1 informed the government 
that my grandfather had died, I was commanded to bury him 
in the open field. It is well, I said, that plaxe and station cause 
neither our blessedness nor condemnation. "F." 



1832. — " We pray you from the bottom of our hearts to 
grant us your assistance, for indeed we know not how to help 
ourselves. Our number is about a hundred and fifty. There 
are besides many others who would join us, but they first 
wish to see how the affair will terminate, for they are of opin- 
ion it will not go well with us. Meanwhile, we stand fast by 
the Holy Scriptures, and the unaltered Augsburg Confession, 
as it was accepted by the Emperor Charles V. in the year 
1530. God be praised for granting us such light ! We 
have a sure word of prophecy, from which the apostle says to 
those who deviate, : It were better for them not to have known 
the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to 
turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them :' (2 
Peter ii 21 ;) and St. Paul exhorts Timothy, ' But continue 
thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been as- 
sured of, knowing of whom thou has learned them/ &c, 
(2 Tim. iii. 14, 15.) Beloved friends, I must say yet one thing 
more, that several of us have not for many years received the 
sacrament from the Romish party ; I myself have not for four 
years, because they administer it under only one form, con- 
trary to the commandment of Christ our Lord. I cannot de- 
scribe the dreadful insults which we have endured from the 
priesthood. May God forgive them ! "H." 



1834 — " The Emperor has promised us equal rights with the 
Catholics ; and when we prayed him to grant us a dismissal, 
he replied, ' It is indeed against my inclination, nevertheless, 
I will see what can be done.' He bade us, thereupon still to 
remain constant, and not to play the hypocrite, But now 



106 APPENDIX. 

they oppress us as far they are able. The persecutions, 
which we have already described to you. still continue, and 
indeed become more and more severe. Wherever a Protest- 
ant is found among Catholics, he is compelled to depart, 
or if he desires to purchase any property, the entire parish is 
summoned to prevent him. They also takeaway our books; 
and if any one falls sick, he is forbidden any visits, save those 
of the priests, who hasten to condemn him on his sick-bed, and 
predict his eternal damnation. The passport which we re- 
quested to go to the Emperor has been refused. 

" F. and H. !) 



" We pray to God and you for help, and hope He will be 
pleased to send us a deliverer, even as He sent Moses to the 
Israelites, to free us from our oppressors. Pharaoh the king 
carried it with a high hand until he found his grave in the 
Red Sea. Even so can God deliver us. Therefore we be- 
seech you to do for us all things possible, and not forget us, 
as we also will not forget ypu." 



1835 — " We thank God on every remembrance of the kind- 
ness and compassion which you bear towards us ; for the 
books you sent us, and for all things else. They still oppress 
us as far as possible, only they have not put any to death ; 
but nothing besides has been omitted. 

" F., R., and H." 



1837 — Addressed to a Protestant Clergyman. 
" Most beloved friend and brother in Christ Jesus — 
H As you desire us to report to you how it fared with us 
upon our journey, we are not willing any longer to delay. 
We beg you not to take it ill on our part that we sent you no 
account before. The reason was, that we wished to wait till 
all had arrived, that we might communicate the latest infor- 
mation. We felt very anxious on account of some, who, we 
were told at Bocklabruck, were only sixteen miles behind us ; 
but after waiting for them several days in Schmiedeberg, and 



APPENDIX. 107 

not being able to obtain any certain tidings of them, we re- 
solved, on the 29th of September, to take out a passport to go 
and meet them. But, God be thanked, we had not proceeded 
further than the borders at Konigshain, when we met them 
safe and sound, and With a joyful welcome. As to what else 
befel us, we need only say, that we everywhere met with a 
kind reception. Everywhere we found good quarters ; no 
one laid any obstacles in our Way. Some of the first division 
were obliged indeed to encamp under the open heaven. But, 
thanks to God it was not so with us ; for the hand of the Lord 
guided us all the way, until we came into our new fatherland. 
Those who arrived last, spake in like manner. 

" Thus have the words been fulfilled which we heard to our 
comfort in a sermon at ErTerding, ' Have ye ever lacked any- 
thing V and with the disciples we must answer, ' Nothing.' 
We wish also to inform you, that five of our number already 
lie buried in Schmiedeberg. Three of them were carried off 
by the cholera, the other two of bodily weakness ; one of the 
first was a youth of twelve years, the rest of an advanced age. 
Now, Holy Father ! thy will be done, which always and at 
all times is the best. Thus, no sooner had they accomplished 
this earthly journey, than they Were called away to their heav- 
enly home; yet not before they had partaken the most holy 
Supper of the Lord, for which they had so earnestly longed j 
after which they left the world in peace, calmly resigned to 
the will of God. 

"At present we are unable to say more, as we have not yet 
received his Majesty's decision as to our final abode. We all 
received from our gracious Lord the King, each his wages in 
due proportion. And now, most beloved brothers in Christ, 
we greet you all, and heartily thank you for all that you have 
done for us on our journey. We must confess, indeed, that 
we were not worthy of the kindness and compassion which 
you have shown to us. 

" May our gracious God reward you, both in time and 
eternity ! 

" Schmiedeberg, Uih of October, 1837," 




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by Dr. Brownlee. Neat, in cloth, price 25 cents. 

4 Anti-Popery ;' being a complete refutation of the doctrines 
of Romanism. By John Rogers, of London. — 75 cents. 

Illustrations of Popery, — compiled from the most authentic 
sources, embracing upwards of two hundred authors, price $1 

Papism in the XIX. Century, in the United States. By the 
Rev. R. J. Breckinridge, D. D. $1. 

Nevins' Thoughts on Popery. Price 3 shillings. 

Ten Lectures on Popery, by the Rev. J. F. Berg, of Phila- 
delphia : with an Introduction by Dr. Brownlee. Handsome- 
ly got up, price 5 shillings. 

History of the Popish Church. By Anthony Gaven, former- 
ly a Romish Priest of Saragossa. pp. 400, with engravings, 
price 5 shillings. 

Foreign Conspiracy against the Liberties of the U. States, 
by Professor Morse. Price 3 shillings. 

Letters on the Romish Controversy, by Dr. Brownlee, se- 
cond edition, price $1. 

The New Testament, from the Vulgate edit, of 1582, with 
Annotations, &c. price 10 shillings. 

Fulke's Confutation of ditto, price $>1. 

Our Liberties defended. — The Question Discussed : Is the 
Protestant or Papal System most favourable to Civil and Re- 
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Neat in cloth, price 31^ cents. 

The Holy Catholic Inquisition, compiled from various au- 
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Neat, in cloth, with engravings, price 3 shillings. 

A Synopsis of the Moral Theology of the Church of Rome, 
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Latin by Samuel B Smith, late a Romish priest. With four 
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A Careful Inquiry into the Fundamental Doctrines of the 
Supreme Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ. Sy W. C. 
Brownlee, D. D. — Neat, in cloth, price 25 cents. 

We cut the following notice of this instructive little work, 
from the columns of the N. Y. Evangelist. 

A Careful Inquiry into the Fundamental Doctrines of the Su- 
preme Deity of our hard Jesus Christ. By W. C. Brownlee, 
D. D. New-York : Charles K. Moore. 

Although Dr. Brownlee has become well known as an author, we 
are certain that he never chose a subject more worthy of his powers, 
nor wielded them more effectually, than in the present treatise. Famil- 
iar and convincing as the proofs of our Lord's Deity were already to our 
minds, we confess Dr. Brownlee has succeeded in setting them forth 
with a freshness and force in some respect entirely new. 

Dr. Brownlee does not rest in the simple defence of his position. Ho 
overwhelms his opponents by the vigor, brilliancy, and boldness of his 
a. tack. We feel sure that no man, however far gone in Socinianism, 
can read this little work, and not realize in some measure, the dangerous 
nature of his error. 

Those who ore firmly established in this glorious and essential truth, 
will be confirmed by a persual, and those who are sceptical on this sub- 
ject, will be benefited also. 

The two Apocalyptic Beasts, in St. John's Revelation, 
fully explained, with an accurate engraving. A very inter- 
esting and instructive Tract, of 12 pages, 8v., price, twelve 
and a half cents each. 

The following notice is from the Christian Intelligencer. 

Explanation of the Picture of the Apocalyptic Beasts. 

St. John beheld a great Beast rising up out of the sea; that is, the 
troubled nations of the earth, agitated by the bloody wars of the Romans. 
This Beast had seven heads (mountains) and ten horns (kingdoms,) ten 
crowns on the horns. After this, he beheld another beast rising out of the 
earth, at first in appearance like a lamb, with two horns. The first Beast 
is the Roman empire pagan; the second, the Roman power papal. And 
as the second Beast gave life to the image of the first Beast, so that it 
spake and acted as it had ever done before, it is easy to see that the 
second Beast became, in fact, in all respects like to the first Beast. And 
hence the picture of the second Beast became, in fact, exactly similar to 
that of the first. The imperial horn and crown being displaced by the 
pope's horn and crown ! 

The picture in this Tract, is drawn and engraven with accuracy, after 
St. John's graphic delineation in Rev. :dii. 1, &c. The Tract will be 
looked upon and read with solemn and impressive interest, by all who 
watch the voices, and thunders, and bloody deeds of the Roman catholic 
church. We particularly recommend this Tract to the public attention. 
Published by C. K. Moore, 142 Nassau street, N. Y . 

$Cr For Sale, Pocket Bibles, $c. $c. 



